The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies voted to prohibit laboratory testing on...

The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies voted to prohibit laboratory testing on animals for the development of cosmetics on the 4th of June 2014

Korea to ban tests for finished cosmetic products

The South Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has announced that finished cosmetics product testing on animals will be banned, followed by consideration of a further ban on the testing of ingredients. This move is part of the Ministry’s 5 Year Plan for Animal Welfare.

"We very much welcome this important breakthrough and we are grateful to the members of the National Assembly who helped us press the case. We will now be urging implementation as soon as possible so that the full ban can be achieved at the earliest possible date, bringing Korea into line with Europe and India”, commented Michelle Thew, Chief Executive of Cruelty Free International. “We hope to see this echoed in 2015 by other Asian countries where we are active. This is a great start to the New Year," she added.

An idea that progresses worldwide

As far as cosmetics animal testing is concerned, 2014 can be viewed as a milestone year with awesome breakthroughs worldwide. After having prohibited the tests in its territory, India has announced a ban on imports of animal tested cosmetics, China has made important progress towards ending mandatory animal testing, and several countries, including Brazil and Australia, are discussing bills to ban tests on animals for cosmetics.

Ban on cosmetics animal testing: 2014 Highlights

- India bans cosmetics animal testing and the sale of animal tested cosmetics

- China removes mandatory animal testing for most domestically-produced cosmetics

- Brazil’s state of Sao Paulo bans cosmetics animal testing

- Brazil bill launched for national test ban

- New Zealand MP launches bid for cosmetics animal test ban in Animal Welfare Act

- New Zealand’s Labour Party pledges support for a ban on cosmetics animal testing

- Australia’s Green Party launches End Cruel Cosmetics Bill

- Australian Senate Motion launched with unprecedented cross-party support

- United States’ Humane Cosmetics Act backed by more than 140 companies and the bill is introduced by Representative Jim Moran

“We’ve ended cosmetics animal testing in India, started the ball rolling in China, seen bills introduced in Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Taiwan and the United States. There are still thousands of animals suffering for our lip sticks and shampoo, so we have a long way to go but I’m excited to see the progress we’ll make for animals in 2015,” said Claire Mansfield, #BeCrueltyFree Campaigns Director at the Humane Society International (HIS).