India's New Animal Testing Rules Spark Debate Over Safeguards

Times of India · science

India is proposing new rules for animal testing in scientific research, aiming to streamline processes while maintaining safeguards. The draft Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Control and Supervision of Experiment, Breeding and Trading of Laboratory Animals) Rules, 2026, introduces a severity-based system for assessing animal suffering. However, animal welfare groups are concerned about potentially reduced regulatory scrutiny and conflicts of interest in approvals. This debate occurs as scientific alternatives like cell-based studies and organoids are advancing, raising questions about India's regulatory framework keeping pace.