Vertebrates can no longer be used in tests conducted for the development and quality control of fragrances, cosmetic and personal care products in Brazil. The ban, which has been debated for several years in the federal parliament, was eventually enforced by the new Lula government via a resolution (Resolução No 58/2023) of the National Council for the Control of Animal Experimentation (Concea - Conselho Nacional de Controle de Experimentação Animal), a collegial body under the authority of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI).
The measure applies to products for which formulas and components have already been proven to be safe and effective. For the others, the new text requires the use of alternative methods. According to Kátia de Angelis, coordinator of Concea, 40 alternative methods are currently recognized by the council.
“We have recognized methods for assessing skin toxicity using artificial skin, or eye irritation using an artificial cornea. These alternative methods allow us to maintain our autonomy to assess new ingredients, in particular those sourced from our biodiversity, in the Amazon for example, and without using animals or possibly a very small number of animals,” she explained.
Kátia de Angelis also pointed out that the new text puts Brazil in line with the most recent international legislation in this area. Today, more than 40 countries around the world have already banned animal testing for cosmetic products, including the member states of the European Union or in Latin America, countries such as Colombia, Mexico and Guatemala. However, the Brazilian text does not provide for a ban on the import of products tested abroad.
The text was approved last December during a Concea meeting and was signed on February 28 by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Luciana Santos. It entered into force on March 1, 2023.
At the end of last year, the Federal Senate approved a similar text before sending it to the Chamber of Deputies. In addition to the ban, the project provided for inspection measures and a strategic plan for the adoption of alternative methods.
