Now’s the time for Canada to end animal suffering for cosmetics
The 2021 Canadian federal election that took place on September 20th resulted in the Liberal party maintaining power but with a minority of seats in the House of Commons and the opposition Conservatives leading in the national popular vote. This means that the two parties will have to work together to govern the country. This should be no problem when it comes to ending animal testing for cosmetics.
In the run up to the election, both the Liberal and Conservative party included commitments to end animal testing for cosmetics in their platforms. Now it’s time to make good on those promises. We believe that the best way to follow through is for the Minister of Health to bring forward a government bill to amend the Food & Drugs Act to prohibit the sale and manufacture of animal tested cosmetics.
Our polling[1] in early 2020 found that an overwhelming 88% of Canadians would support a federal law to prohibit cosmetics tests on animals. The poll also showed that support crosses party lines, with 87% of Liberal, 85% of Conservative, 90% NDP and 87% Green Party supporters in favor. In addition, at our 2018 rally on Parliament Hill with The Body Shop Canada, we were joined by members of Parliament from every political party in calling for a cosmetic animal testing ban.
Our North America Head of Public Affairs, Monica Engebretson, said, “Our success in ending cosmetics testing on animals in a growing number of countries and US states has proven that a cruelty free cosmetics market is possible. Tragically, despite the availability of approved non-animal tests and existing ingredients safe for human use, we estimate that around half a million animals – from rabbits to mice, rats, guinea pigs, and hamsters – are still used annually in cruel and unnecessary cosmetics testing worldwide. That’s why we must keep pushing countries like Canada to take action until animal testing for cosmetics is consigned to the history books once and for all.”
If you live in Canada, do use our quick and easy tool to support a cruelty free Canada now.
Cruelty Free International has been working for the past few years to end the sale of new animal tested cosmetics in Canada. Our campaign has brought awareness to millions of Canadians about the need to end cosmetic animal testing, and we showed parliament how strongly Canadians feel about this issue when we, along with The Body Shop Canada, handed in the the largest petition they’ve received in over 70 years - with more than 630,000 Canadian signatures supporting a ban on cosmetic animal testing. We look forward to continuing our work with campaigners, Canadian cosmetic companies and other stakeholders to achieve robust legislation in Canada.