Legislation and regulation in Africa is, as a whole, very limited with regards to animals used in research. Some countries, for example Nigeria, do not any formal regulations or laws surrounding animals used in research, despite having a high number of tertiary institutions that conduct animal research. Despite this, an organisation called Animal Care and Use in Research, Education and Testing (ACURET) has been started in Nigeria in order to promote humane care and use of animals in research, and to develop training for researchers in conjunction with the 3R’s. This does, however, have no legal basis.

South Africa have a government framework that covers animals used in research, the South African National Standard – The Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes. This document sets out minimum standards and husbandry practices, as well as requiring the 3R’s to be followed, and Animal Ethics Committees to give approval to all experiments before they take place. It is however, not legally binding so can only be followed as advice.

The Animal Protection Act 1962 applies to animals used in research, however no examples are given specifically to research throughout the legislation, making this piece of legislation quite vague and unfit for regulating research.