During the period of hot weather, ASRU assessed temperature data provided by MBR Acres in June and July 2026, and found no evidence of adverse animal welfare impacts.

Establishments are required to undertake daily checks by competent persons to monitor animal welfare and environmental conditions, take prompt action where necessary, and report any actual or potential breach of licence conditions to the Home Office.

The most recent unannounced audit at MBR Acres was carried out on 25 April 2024. Since then, the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) has carried out two announced audits at the establishment, on 4 November 2025 and 10 July 2026.

ASRU determines the nature and frequency of its regulatory oversight of licensed establishments using a risk-based approach.

The Home Office does not comment on planned audits or inspections at individual licensed establishments, as doing so could undermine the effectiveness of regulatory oversight.

The Animals in Science Regulation Unit keeps licensed establishments, including MBR Acres, under ongoing review and uses a risk-based approach to determine the nature, timing and frequency of regulatory activity. This assessment takes account of relevant intelligence, compliance history and emerging risks to animal welfare, including those arising from extreme weather conditions.

Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, licensed establishments must maintain records of the source, use and final disposal of all protected animals bred, kept or used at the establishment for regulated activity. These records must be available to Home Office Inspectors on request.

The Home Office does not centrally hold annual establishment-level data on the number of beagles bred by MBR Acres, the number euthanised before use in regulated procedures, the reasons for euthanasia, or the number rehomed.

The Home Office publishes annual statistics on the use of animals in scientific procedures, which include information on procedures involving dogs. These statistics are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-of-scientific-procedures-on-living-animals. However, these statistics do not provide the requested figures for animals re-homed.

In addition, project licence applications under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are required to include prospective estimates of the number of animals expected to be used. This information is included in the published non-technical summaries of project licences granted available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/non-technical-summaries-of-projects-granted-under-aspa.

The Government has no plans to introduce the routine publication of audit or inspection reports for licensed establishments. Requests for information, including information relating to inspections and audits, are considered on a case-by-case basis. Decisions are made in accordance with the statutory framework governing information obtained under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, the Freedom of Information Act 2000, data protection legislation and other applicable legal obligations. This protects the effective operation of the UKs rigorous and robust regulatory regime.

The Government is committed to transparency and publishes a range of information about animals in science regulation, including: annual statistics, non-technical summaries of each and every licensed project, an annual regulator’s report that includes the outcomes of all non-compliance investigations, Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act and the Code of Practice. The Regulator also regularly publishes technical advice notes. Further, reports of the Animals in Science Committee are routinely published and this Government has committed to publication of additional statistics on breeding and genotyping of animals for scientific procedures.

Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA), the Home Office may review an establishment licence where information raises concerns about compliance or animal welfare. In deciding whether to vary, suspend or revoke a licence, it considers the available evidence, the nature and seriousness of any breach, its actual or potential impact on animal welfare, the licence holder’s compliance history and whether the proposed action is necessary and proportionate. A licence may be suspended urgently where this is necessary to safeguard animal welfare. Decisions are taken case by case in accordance with ASPA and the published Animals in Science Regulation Unit compliance framework.

Concerns raised about MBR Acres have been assessed through these established regulatory processes. Published inspection reports found no evidence of non-compliance with the requirements of ASPA, associated licence conditions, or the statutory Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Bred, Supplied or Used for Scientific Purposes. The Regulator also carried out an announced audit on 10 July 2026, following a period of high temperatures in Great Britain. No immediate animal welfare concerns were identified by inspectors on the day of the visit.

The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 sets a rigorous and robust framework for protecting the welfare of animals used in science, including dogs. The framework establishes minimum standards for the care and accommodation of animals, including environmental conditions and arrangements to safeguard animal welfare. The delivery of this framework is the responsibility of the Regulator, who has conducted three audits of MBR Acres in the last three years.

The Regulator for animals in science holds some temperature monitoring data for MBR Acres for the June and July 2026 period, although this information is not collected and held on a routine basis.

Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA), licensed establishments are responsible for ensuring the welfare of animals in their care at all times, including during periods of extreme temperature. All such establishments must comply with ASPA, the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Bred, Supplied or Used for Scientific Purposes, and relevant licence conditions. This includes requirements for daily checks of animal welfare and environmental conditions, and for breaches or potential breaches of licence conditions to be reported to the Regulator.

The Regulator monitors establishments’ compliance with these standards through a risk-based programme of announced and unannounced audits, as well as well as broader compliance and enforcement activity, and engagement with establishments.

The Home Office does not routinely publish audit or inspection reports relating to individual licensed establishments. Requests for information, including information relating to inspections and audits, are considered on a case-by-case basis. Decisions are made in accordance with the statutory framework governing information obtained under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, the Freedom of Information Act 2000, data protection legislation and other applicable legal obligations.

The Government is committed to transparency and publishes a range of information about animals in science regulation where appropriate, including annual statistics and non-technical summaries of licenced projects. However, information obtained in the course of regulatory functions must be handled in accordance with the statutory framework, and the effective operation of the regulatory regime must not be undermined. The Government therefore has no current plans to introduce the routine publication of audit or inspection reports for licensed establishments.

On 10 July 2026, the Animals in Science Regulation Unit carried out an announced visit to MBR Acres to inspect compliance with the requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) following the recent period of high temperatures in Great Britain. No immediate animal welfare concerns were identified by inspectors on the day of the visit.

Under ASPA, licensed establishments are responsible for ensuring the welfare of animals in their care at all times, including during extreme temperatures. All such establishments must comply with ASPA, the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Bred, Supplied or Used for Scientific Purposes, and relevant licence conditions. This includes requirements for daily checks of animal welfare and environmental conditions, and for breaches or potential breaches of licence conditions to be reported to the Secretary of State.

Pharmaceutical legislation requires that, before a medicine can be approved for testing in humans, it is tested in a rodent and non-rodent species under international guidelines. This may include dogs as an appropriate model. The number of Beagles bred is largely determined by the forecast needs of the pharmaceutical industry that require testing of medicines. The number of scientific procedures using animals, including dogs, is published annually at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/animals-in-science-regulation-unit#statistics.

The Home Office regulator assures compliance of all work licensed with the rigorous requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act. For every research proposal, Home Office inspectors assure that animals are replaced with non-animal alternatives wherever possible, the number of animals are reduced to the minimum necessary to achieve the result sought, and that, for those animals which must be used, procedures are refined as much as possible to minimise their suffering.

This Government has made a commitment to the long-term goal of phasing out animal testing in science and research in all but exceptional circumstances. In November 2025, the Government published Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation, and uptake of alternative methods, backed by £75 million in funding. This includes plans to establish a UK Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods and a preclinical translational models hub, alongside specific commitments to reduce the number of dogs used in scientific procedures.

The Animals in Science Regulation Unit maintains regular engagement with MBR Acres as part of its ongoing oversight of establishments licenced under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). This includes updates on operational matters and environmental conditions, including temperature monitoring, to ensure that appropriate standards of animal welfare are maintained.

Daily checks by competent personnel are mandated under licence conditions to monitor animal welfare and environmental conditions, with prompt action required to address any issues. Establishments are also required to report any breaches or potential breaches of licence conditions to the Secretary of State.

The Home Office has published a number of recent inspection reports for this establishment, with the most recent inspection taking place in November 2025. There is no evidence of non-compliance with ASPA, associated licence conditions, or the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Bred, Supplied or Used in Scientific Procedures.

ASRU maintains regular engagement with MBR Acres as part of its ongoing oversight of establishments licenced under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). This includes updates on operational matters and environmental conditions, including temperature monitoring, to ensure that appropriate standards of animal welfare are maintained.

Daily checks by competent personnel are mandated under licence conditions to monitor animal welfare and environmental conditions, with prompt action required to address any issues. Establishment are also required to report any breaches or potential breaches of licence conditions to the Secretary of State.

ASRU has released a number of inspection reports for MBR Acres, which found no evidence of non-compliance with the requirements of ASPA, associated licence conditions, or the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Bred, Supplied or Used in scientific Procedures.

The Home Office does not hold information centrally on the number of animals supplied by particular establishments that are used in specific studies, including those supporting international research projects or regulatory submissions to overseas regulators. The Department has therefore not made a specific assessment of beagles supplied for these purposes.

All regulated procedures carried out in the United Kingdom are subject to the requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA), regardless of whether the resulting data is submitted to UK or overseas regulators. ASPA provides a strict framework of licencing and compliance controls. This requires licenced establishments to maintain accurate records, including the source of animals used in regulated procedures. Records may be examined by the Home Office Regulator as part of its inspection and audit activity.

The Home Office publishes annual statistics on the use of animals in science which contain information on the number of procedures conducted but not disaggregated by establishment. Annual statistics can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/scientific-procedures-on-living-animals-great-britain-2024.

The Government considers that the existing framework provides robust oversight and does not plan to introduce additional regulations in this area.

The Home Office does not hold information centrally on the number of animals supplied by particular establishments that are used in specific studies, including those supporting international research projects or regulatory submissions to overseas regulators. The Department has therefore not made a specific assessment of beagles supplied for these purposes.

All regulated procedures carried out in the United Kingdom are subject to the requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA), regardless of whether the resulting data is submitted to UK or overseas regulators. ASPA provides a strict framework of licencing and compliance controls. This requires licenced establishments to maintain accurate records, including the source of animals used in regulated procedures. Records may be examined by the Home Office Regulator as part of its inspection and audit activity.

The Home Office publishes annual statistics on the use of animals in science which contain information on the number of procedures conducted but not disaggregated by establishment. Annual statistics can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/scientific-procedures-on-living-animals-great-britain-2024.

The Government considers that the existing framework provides robust oversight and does not plan to introduce additional regulations in this area.

The Home Office does not provide financial support for either B&K Universal or MBR Acres.

The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology has not provided any direct financial support to the MBR Acres facility.

Licensed establishments are responsible for maintaining records on the source, use and final disposal of protected animals bred, kept or used for regulated procedures.

Under Standard Condition 8 of the Establishment Licence, all licensed establishments those records must be kept in a format acceptable to the Secretary of State. Compliance is checked through announced and unannounced audits by the Home Office Regulator. MBR Acres was most recently audited in November 2025, when inspectors reviewed the establishment’s records, including those relating to the source, use and disposal of animals. The Home Office does not hold this data centrally.

The Home Office publishes annual statistics on the use of animals in scientific procedures. The annual statistics can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/scientific-procedures-on-living-animals-great-britain-2024/annual-statistics-of-scientific-procedures-on-living-animals-great-britain-2024

The Home Office does not hold data on the number of animals bred by individual establishments. Responsibility for recording such information rests with the licensed establishments themselves.

Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, licensed establishments are required to maintain records, in a format acceptable to the Secretary of State, of the source, use and final disposal of all protected animals bred, kept or used at the establishment for regulated activity.

The Home Office publishes annual statistics on the use of animals in scientific procedures, which include information on procedures involving dogs. In addition, project licence applications under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are required to include prospective estimates of the number of animals expected to be used. This information is included in the published non-technical summaries of project licences granted available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/non-technical-summaries-of-projects-granted-under-aspa.