Thiruvananthapuram | Animal rights organisation, PETA India has called for withdrawal of the Centre's proposed rules governing animal experimentation, claiming it could weaken existing animal protections.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India (PETA India) has said that the draft Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Control and Supervision of Experiment, Breeding and Trading of Laboratory Animals) Rules, 2026 could expose animals to greater suffering in labs.

The animal rights organisation claimed that the draft rules could permit the capture and use of animals protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, in experiments, subject to scientific justification and legal permissions.

Exemptions under the rules could also allow experimentation on stray dogs and cats under specified circumstances, it contended.

"Although the draft prohibits prolonged severe suffering that cannot be alleviated, it continues to accommodate experiments involving severe suffering," PETA India claimed.

It further claimed that the draft rules would result in weakening independent oversight and existing animal welfare protection.