Hollywood's Gillian Anderson asks health ministry to end repeat animal tests

In a letter to the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, X Files star Gillian Anderson has requested a ban on repeat experiments on animals in toxicity tests, PTI reported.

The 47-year-old, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) supporter, is currently in India shooting for Gurinder Chadha's Viceroy's House.

In her letter addressed to minister of health and family welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda, Anderson said, "It's an honour to be in Jodhpur shooting Viceroy's House, a film set in 1947, a sad and momentous year in India's history. India holds a special place in my heart for many reasons, but especially for its cultural reverence for animals."

"I was so pleased to hear from my friends at PETA that the Drugs Technical Advisory Board operating under your Ministry agrees that animals should not have to undergo cruel tests for new drug registrations when complete data from earlier toxicity experiments already exist for drugs that have been approved abroad."

Adding, "I therefore respectfully request that you move this process along by amending the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, immediately in order to stop redundant drug testing," Anderson said.