Draft 2026 rules would regulate animal experiments under PCA Act

This document is a notification from the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairies (Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairies) publishing the draft 'Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Animal Experiments for Scientific and Academic Purposes) Rules, 2026'. It matters to citizens as it outlines the proposed regulatory framework for the use of animals in scientific research, including licensing, welfare standards, and the 3Rs principle (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement).

Who it concerns: The document concerns the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA), the Indian Council for Animal Welfare (ICAW), registered breeders, traders, and users of laboratory animals, as well as institutions conducting scientific or academic experiments involving vertebrate animals.

What the document says

• The draft rules are titled 'Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Animal Experiments for Scientific and Academic Purposes) Rules, 2026'.
• The rules aim to provide for the protection of animals used in scientific or academic experiments.
• The rules mandate the implementation of the 3Rs principle: Replacement (using non-animal methods where possible), Reduction (using the minimum number of animals necessary), and Refinement (minimizing pain, distress, and suffering).
• The rules apply to all vertebrate animals, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, with specific provisions for embryos and fetuses.
• Experiments are permitted for purposes such as basic research, applied research for disease prevention/treatment, quality testing of drugs/food, conservation, and professional training.
• The use of protected wild animals and non-human primates is generally prohibited, with specific exceptions requiring scientific justification and competent authority approval.
• The rules define key terms including 'CPCSEA', 'ICAW', 'Breeders', 'Traders', 'Users', 'Invasive Experiments', and 'Non-invasive Experiments'.
• Objections to the draft rules must be submitted to the CPCSEA Secretary within three days of publication in the Official Gazette.

Also in the document

• The document is a draft notification published in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary) on October 6, 2026.
• The rules supersede the 'Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals Rules, 1968' and the 'Regulation of Research and Experiments on Animals (Control and Supervision) Rules, 1998'.
• The rules specify that the use of animals for experiments does not exclude them from the scope of the rules even if analgesics or anesthetics are used to prevent pain or suffering.
• The rules apply until the completion of the experiment and the humane killing of the animal or its release into suitable accommodation or a wildlife sanctuary.