The Issue
Animal testing for cosmetics still happens. Over 80% of the world allows animals to be used in cruel and unnecessary cosmetics tests and these animal tested cosmetics can be purchased in every country across the globe.
Animals, including rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and rats are routinely injected, gassed, force-fed and killed for cosmetics testing worldwide. Cruelty Free International believes this is ethically unacceptable and unnecessary.
Existing bans
Following a high profile, long-standing campaign spearheaded by the BUAV, there is now a ban in place on animal testing for cosmetics and their ingredients in the European Union, as well as on the sale of some cosmetics that have been tested on animals elsewhere in the world.
The EU is due to implement a marketing ban in 2013 on the import and sale of any cosmetics or personal care products which have been tested on animals anywhere in the world.
Israel has followed suit and is also due to implement an import and sales ban on cosmetics, personal care products and household products in 2013 at the same time as the European Union.
Croatia has banned animal tests for cosmetics and household products and ingredients, and Norway has banned the use of animals to test cosmetics ingredients.
However, there are no restrictions in other parts of the world, including the USA and Asia. In a global market it is important that all countries ban the practice to avoid animal testing simply being moved around the world to those countries with no effective laws.
Why are animals used to test cosmetics?
We all want cosmetics and toiletries to work and not harm us in the process, so companies are required by regulators around the world to prove this. Traditionally, cosmetics have been tested on animals to demonstrate they are effective and safe.
Learn more about these animal tests
However, this can be done by not only using approved tests that do not use animals, but also by sticking to the many combinations of existing ingredients that have already been established as safe for human use. These modern methods are better for humans as they are more reliable at predicting how we will react, and of course better for animals who no longer have to suffer.
Learn more about these alternatives.
In some countries animal tests for most cosmetics products and ingredients continue to take place despite not even being specifically required by law.
Animal tests may still be carried out around the world for three main reasons – regulators have not yet approved or accepted new non-animal tests; some cosmetics companies are selling products with innovative ingredients where they are still using traditional animal tests and governments around the world are still allowing the tests to happen.
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Humane alternatives
Using animals to test cosmetics is unethical and unnecessary. There are many reliable and humane alternatives which do not involve animal suffering.
