The Gazette of India has published the draft Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Control and Supervision of Experiment, Breeding and Trading of Laboratory Animals) Rules, 2026 (G.S.R. 864(E)) to replace the 1968 and 1998 rules on experiments on animals. The public has 30 days to send objections to the Committee for Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CCSEA).
Whole draft is here to read.
The below is a draft for objecting this bill. The public has 30 days to object. Send yours by email.
To - cpcsea-mef@gov.in
Subject - Objections on G.S.R. 864(E) — Draft Laboratory Animals Rules, 2026
Body -
Sir/Madam,
I have read the draft rules published under G.S.R. 864(E) and submit the following objections within the period provided.
Rule 11(3) places approval of mild and moderate experiments on every species, including dogs and non-human primates, with the establishment's own ethics committee, and states such experiments "shall not be referred to the Committee." Current CPCSEA practice requires CCSEA approval for every experiment on an animal above rodent and lagomorph level. The reporting duty in Rule 11(4) does not replace this — reporting after a decision is not approval before one.
Please retain CCSEA approval for all experiments on animals above rodent and lagomorph level, whatever severity is assigned.
2. Rule 11(10) has the severity grade certified by the establishment's own veterinarian — and that grade decides whether the experiment leaves the building. The institution is grading the work that determines its own oversight. The four-tier framework is drawn from EU Directive 2010/63/EU, where Article 38(2)(c) places that classification with the regulator, not the laboratory.
Please require the severity classification to be confirmed by CCSEA at the application stage.
3. Rule 5(3) prohibits the use of stray and feral animals and then allows exemptions, the first condition being an essential need for studies concerning human or animal health — wide enough to cover a great deal.
Please delete the exemption. If it is retained, publish every exemption granted along with the reasons.
Finally, these rules supersede the 1968 and 1998 Rules entirely, and no clause-by-clause comparison has been published. Without it, informed public comment is difficult. I request that CCSEA publish one and reopen the comment period.
Kindly acknowledge receipt.
Yours faithfully,
Name, City
