Peta India seeks withdrawal of Centre's draft rules on animal experiments

Animal rights organisation PETA India has called for the withdrawal of the Centre's draft rules on animal experimentation, claiming the proposed framework could weaken existing safeguards and expose animals to greater suffering in laboratories.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India (PETA India) said the draft Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Control and Supervision of Experiment, Breeding and Trading of Laboratory Animals) Rules, 2026, could permit the capture and use of animals protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, for experiments, subject to scientific justification and legal permissions.

The organisation also contended that exemptions under the proposed rules could allow experiments on stray dogs and cats under specified circumstances.

"Although the draft prohibits prolonged severe suffering that cannot be alleviated, it continues to accommodate experiments involving severe suffering," PETA India claimed.

The animal rights organisation further alleged that the proposed rules would weaken independent oversight and existing animal welfare protections.

"The draft would allow institutional ethics committees to approve experiments classified as mild or moderate on larger animals, including dogs, horses, pigs, and cattle, without prior approval from the central Committee for Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CCSEA)," it contended.

PETA India said there was a global shift towards non-animal research technologies and methods. It argued that the proposed rules should prioritise alternatives to animal testing and stronger welfare safeguards.

The organisation said the draft should focus on the "use of scientifically advanced non-animal approaches and animal-welfare protections, rather than weakening existing safeguards or creating new avenues for animal experimentation".

"PETA India calls for the withdrawal of the proposed rules and urges stronger regulations that protect wildlife and community animals, preserve independent oversight and existing safeguards, and prioritise scientifically sound non-animal methods," the animal rights organisation said.