Instructions and conditions for issue of Certificate of Registration by AWBI under the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules 2001 under the PCA Act 1960

INSTRUCTIONS AND CONDITIONS FOR ISSUE OF CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION BY AWBI UNDER THE PERFORMING ANIMALS (REGISTRATION) RULES 2001 UNDER THE PCA ACT 1960

  • Producer of the Film in which animals are used should apply to the AWBI
  • Application should reach AWBI 30 days before shooting with the animals.
  • The prescribed proforma is also available in the website www.awbi.org.
  • Furnish details of animals to be used and their performance sequences.
  • Furnish ownership certificate for the animals.
  • If they are elephants, snakes or wildlife, ownership certificate from the wild life authorities to be obtained. If the shooting is to be held in the states other then the state from which certificate is obtained then valid transit pass is to be provided.
  • Recent health certificate for the animals to be used should be attached form a VCI registered veterinary doctor.
  • The place (location), date and time of the proposed shoot should be mentioned in the application. The shooting must be completed within six weeks after pre shoot approval. In case the shooting does not materialize within the specified period, a fresh set of health certificates should be submitted.
  • A demand draft for Rs. 500/- payable at Chennai drawn in the name of Animal Welfare Board of India should be enclosed.
  • Applications by email and fax will not be considered till the original application with signature is received in the AWBI.
  • Incomplete applications, details of performance and details of animals if not correctly given, certification will not be entertained.
  • If animals in the background in the village scenes, or birds flying or animals grazing or animals/carts moving on the roads are seen the health certificate and ownership certificates can be waived.
  • If performers are in the carts drawn by animals then the certificates are mandatory.
  • Scenes depicting cruelty, causing hurt to animals, birds and animals in cages, making animals perform unnatural act are not permitted. The above scenes will be removed at the time of screening and legal action will be initiated and NOC will not be issued.
  • Racing of animals, fights (Cock, bull, sheep/goat, snake and mongoose) ‘Jallikkattu’ like activities will not be permitted.
  • Tripping, falling and throwing of animals, fighting scenes with animals will be denied certification and invite legal action.
  • When large groups of animals are used proper medical facilities will be provided at the site of shooting and a representative of SPCA or Animal welfare organization should be present.
  • Use of deafening noise, blasts, naked fire and such scenes should be avoided as it may cause panic and harm the animals and people.
  • Fighting scenes in the farm houses / (dairy, poultry, and sheep) farms will not be permitted.
  • A sub-committee screens the applications for issuing approvals for shooting (pre-shoot and post shoot approval)
  • Application submitted for post shoot alongwith the CD should not depict/involve cruelty scenes, failing which AWBI will be constrained to initiate legal proceedings in addition to direct removal of above scenes.
  • Incomplete application will not be entertained.
  • Application received in original till the previous day of the meeting will be screened.
  • After the shooting of the film, the clippings of the animal scenes should be sent in duplicate for the Sub-Committee to scrutinize confirming to the scenes/actions specified in the application. This should be accompanied by the post shoot health certificate in the prescribed proforma. Any scenes found in the CD not confirming in the original application will not be permitted and the pre-shoot permission, registration certificate will be cancelled under the provisions of the Performing Animals (Registration) Amendment Rules 2002. One of the approved CDs will be forwarded to CBFC to indicate the scenes approved and animals permitted by AWBI.
  • The exhibition of the following species of animals have been banned under the Rules vide Notification No. G.S.R.619(E) dated 14.10.1998 - Tiger, panther, lion, bear and monkey which may be kept in mind before planning for the film shooting.
  • After 1-12-2006, Certificate of Registration will not be issued for the films which have been completed without obtaining pre-shoot permission from AWBI. This has been widely publicized through National Newspapers on 04-11-2006. This facility was extended upto 31.03.07 for the benefit of film producers. Henceforth w.e.f. 01.04.07 applications for post shoot NOC without pre-shoot permission will not be accepted. NOC will be sent alongwith CD to the Censor Board by AWBI for issuing the Censor Certificate.
  • 2 copies of CDs must contain the audio track for screening.
  • The location with full address of the Censor Board where the film will be submitted for Censorship Certificate should be given in the time of post shoot NOC application to enable us to send NOC and CD to the concerned.
  • Any regional language movies other than Hindi should have subtitles in English
  • Details should be sent about the relevance of using animals in the sequence
  • If there are several animal shots, then it should be taken in 1 CD as continuous shots
  • Submission of application is not sufficient for filming (animal shooting) to be done. The film shooting with animals can only be done after formal approval of AWBI and after prior intimation of date, time and exact location of film shooting is communicated to the Board.
  • If details of shooting (date, place, time of shooting with sufficient time) is not intimated to the Board, as required, the Board reserves the right not to issue NOC.
Last modified: Tuesday, 5 June 2012, 5:16 AM