Stories
PETA India Demands Withdrawal of Centre's Draft Rules on Animal Testing
- •PETA India has urged the Centre to withdraw its proposed draft rules governing animal experimentation, claiming they weaken existing animal welfare safeguards.
- •The organisation stated that the draft rules could permit the capture and experimental use of wildlife protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
- •Concerns were raised that the regulations might allow experimentation on stray cats and dogs under specific circumstances.
- •PETA India criticised provisions that allow institutional committees to approve certain experiments on large animals without prior central oversight from CCSEA.
- •The organisation advocates for a global shift towards advanced non-animal research methods rather than expanding avenues for animal experimentation.
Key Questions Answered
PETA India has called for the withdrawal of the Centre's draft rules on animal experimentation, claiming they could weaken existing protections, allow experiments on protected wildlife and stray animals, and accommodate severe suffering. The organisation contends that the draft reduces independent oversight by allowing institutional ethics committees to approve tests on larger animals without prior CCSEA clearance.
The proposed rules aim to simplify the approval process for academic and research bodies by replacing regulations from 1968 and 1998, introducing a risk-based classification system linked to expected pain levels rather than animal size. Under this framework, registered Institutional Animal Ethics Committees would be permitted to approve a wider range of studies, reducing the need for direct clearance from the CCSEA.
PETA India advocates for a shift toward scientifically advanced non-animal research technologies and methods. The organisation urges the Centre to prioritise these sustainable approaches and enhance animal welfare protections rather than weakening existing safeguards or creating new avenues for animal experimentation.
