China On Track To Ban Cosmetic Animal Testing

Reports have revealed that China could be on track to end animal testing for ordinary cosmetics.

A public consultation is currently taking place, with new regulations being drawn up to advise companies how to meet criteria to eradicate animal testing.

Humane Society International (HSI) has explained that as of the start of next year, imported ordinary cosmetics — such as perfume, mascara, shampoo, and blusher — could be exempt from animal testing procedures.

“The Language Is Encouraging”

“The signals are very strong, there’s no reason to believe we’re not on that trajectory,” said Troy Seidle, the vice president of research and toxicology at HSI.

“All the language is encouraging.”

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Animal Testing In China

HSI has been long been campaigning for an end to cosmetic testing on animals in China, with slow but steady progress made over the years.

If the new regulations were to pass into law, then certain “special-use” cosmetics — such as hair dye — may still be subject to an animal testing phase.

“It’s been a journey,” said Julia Fentem, vice president of product safety and environment at Unilever — a company that imports a number of products into China.

“A Huge Responsibility”

“In 2011, we started bringing together the Chinese scientists and regulators with some of the leading US thinkers in the Unilever laboratories in Shanghai. At that time, we already had 20 years of history developing non-animal methods of testing, but for Chinese scientists this was new.”

“If you’re a government official you have a huge responsibility for millions and millions of consumers, and that inhibits change.”

“To find something that adequately protects your community, or that might not be understood properly, is a huge duty. It almost takes a crisis like the one we’re in at the moment to make people take risks.”

Do you think the end of animal testing in China is finally in sight? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!