The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAH&D) on October 06, 2026, issued the Draft Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Control and Supervision of Experiment, Breeding and Trading of Laboratory Animals) Rules, 2026.
The following has been stated:
• The draft Rules aim to strengthen the protection and welfare of animals used for scientific and educational purposes by implementing the 3Rs—Replacement, Reduction and Refinement, regulating their breeding, housing, trading and use in experiments, and requiring humane endpoints and euthanasia practices. They require breeders, traders, and establishments conducting experiments to be registered with CCSEA, with registration generally valid for three years. Experiments require prior approval of the CCSEA or Institutional Animals Ethics Committee (IAEC), with severe and non-recovery experiments involving animals above rodents and lagomorphs requiring CCSEA approval within 30 working days.
• The draft restricts the use of protected wildlife, wild animals, stray/feral domestic animals and non-human primates, subject to specified scientific justification and competent-authority permissions. Establishments shall maintain adequate trained personnel, appoint a designated veterinarian, maintain animal and experiment records, comply with prescribed housing and welfare standards, and conduct periodic inspections. Each establishment shall constitute a nine-member IAEC, with mandatory representation of scientific, veterinary, external and socially aware members.
• Objections and suggestions may be submitted by November 06, 2026.
[Notification No. - G.S.R. 864(E)]
