Welfare
Practitioners must work only within their knowledge, practical capability and recorded SRAS scope. They must not accept responsibility for a species, animal, action or production environment for which they are not competent. They must obtain suitable support, modify the proposed work or decline it where necessary. Schedule, budget, status, client pressure or fear of losing work must never override a reasonable welfare or safety decision.
Safety
Animal work must be planned, controlled and supported by proportionate risk assessment. Practitioners must raise concerns and decline or stop their own animal-work activity where they reasonably believe welfare or safety is being compromised. This duty sits alongside—not in place of—the production’s legal, welfare and operational responsibilities.
Honesty
Practitioners must not misrepresent qualifications, experience, the capabilities of an animal, or the conditions under which work is performed to productions, to SRAS or to the public.
Compliance
Practitioners operate within all applicable legal duties, welfare guidance, licensing regimes and production safety frameworks. SRAS qualification complements these obligations. It does not replace them.
Professional Conduct
Practitioners must communicate honestly, behave respectfully, work within their competence, protect confidential information and avoid harassment, discrimination, retaliation or conflicts that undermine professional judgment. Alleged conduct is considered under the published complaints process, with notice, an opportunity to respond and proportionate outcomes.
Use of Titles
SRAS titles and marks may only be used by current, active qualified practitioners and only as described in the Use of Titles and Marks policy. Lapsed or withdrawn qualification must never be presented as current.
Reporting
Practitioners should report serious welfare, safety, title-misuse or conduct concerns through an appropriate production, statutory or SRAS route. Immediate danger must be directed to emergency or statutory authorities. SRAS expects honest, good-faith reporting and cooperation; it does not treat a person as in breach merely because they lacked knowledge, evidence or a safe opportunity to report.
Cooperation
Practitioners must cooperate with SRAS in any review, investigation or assessment process and provide accurate information when requested.
