REGULATIONS REGARDING EXPERIMENTS ON ANIMALS :You may be aware that experiments on animals are performed in the laboratories of educational and research institutions. You should know some of the aspects of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act in relation to experiments on animals. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act was formulated by the Central Government in 1960 to prevent unnecessary pain or suffering being caused to animals. Rules were also made under this Act later to specify the regulations. Two sets of rules, one made in October 1968 and another in December 1998, are related to experiments on animals.

For controlling and regulating experiments on animals as cited in Case Study 5, the Central Government had formulated in 1998, Breeding of and Experiments on Animals (Control and Supervision) Rules. These rules apply to all organisations performing experiments on animals. The educational institutions above higher secondary level and research institutions are also covered by these rules. Some of the provisions of these are rules are given below:

Institutions which perform experiments on animals shall get registered with the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA). This Committee works under the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

An Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) is to be formed at the educational or research institution. IAEC will have as its members experts from within the institution and outside. It is the responsibility of IAEC to monitor experiments on animals at the institution level.

It is necessary to get permission of IAEC before acquiring animals or performing experiments on animals.

1. The animals should be stocked in a hygienic manner.
2. There should be trained animal attendants.
3. Animals should be looked after properly both before and after the experiments.
4. Whenever operation is involved, anaesthetic shall be administered by a trained person.
5. If it will be much painful for the animals to live after the experiment, they shall be destroyed mercifully while still under the influence of anaesthetic.
6. Only in schools, colleges and recognised training institutions, experiments shall be performed for the purpose of attaining skill.
7. Without proper justification, no experiment shall be repeated, the result of which is already known conclusively.
8. Animals should be acquired only from a registered breeder.
9. IAEC should send statement to CPCSEA regarding animal-stock etc. In the specified form.
10. If the rules are not followed by the institution, animal experimentation may be stopped by CPCSEA.