Permission needed to use animals in films - Fusion - WeRIndia

Any filmmaker who wishes to use an animal in shoots inside as well as outside the country has to get a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). This has been recently advised by the Union law ministry to the Information and Broadcasting ministry.

It was stated that Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act is applicable to all categories of films including those shot outside and brought within the country for exhibition.

The NOC is not necessary for exhibition and screening of foreign films. The Censor Board has expressed concerns on this mandatory requirement of NOC from AWBI as it is not possible to impose this rule on foreign filmmakers. They said that different countries have different rules.

The law ministry stated that Supreme Court also asked the government to make sure that animals do not get any cruel treatment in any films. The Cinematography Rules and guidelines also support the same.

The law ministry said that concerns over animal cruelty occur at the time of shooting films. They said that AWBI clearance is applied to films shot or produced in India. It is also applicable to films shot partly of whole and exhibited to Indian viewers.

The law ministry added that in case of films which are imported to India would still have the same concerns of animal cruelty applied. However, the rule of having an NOC is not applied during the filming or exhibition of foreign films.

The ministry said that the guidelines help the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) make sure that animal cruelty or abuse of animals is not presented needlessly. They have given suggestions to the Information and Broadcasting ministry to make the proper amendments in its rules as well as make proper guidelines under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

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