One Small Step...

On the 30th June 2014 one small step was made towards ending animal testing for cosmetic purposes in China... 

A remarkable day and one that has been a long time coming; China has introduced new regulations that mean that cosmetics produced and sold on its shores will no longer have to undergo mandatory risk assessment testing on animals. 

Previously it was Required By Law that all cosmetics sold in China were tested on animals, but The China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) have now loosened restrictions on ordinary cosmetic products in a move that could save over 10,000 animals per year.

In a statement the Humane Society International’s China Policy adviser, Peter Li said

“This is an important first step for China in moving away from cruel and unreliable animal testing for cosmetics. Our Be Cruelty-Free campaign has worked hard to achieve this milestone, but we know much work remains before we eliminate all cosmetics animal testing in China, so we are not resting on our laurels. In making this rule change, China is acknowledging the global trend towards cruelty-free cosmetics, and that’s hugely significant” 

Producers of ordinary products such as make-up, perfume, skin and hair care items will be able to choose alternative methods of testing, however the regulations do not apply special-use products such as hair dye, deodorant or sunscreen.

The regulations also only apply to the ordinary products that are sold in China alone and have no effect on brands that are manufactured in China but then sold outside the country; imported products (which totalled nearly $1.7billion in 2013*) will still be subject to the rigorous testing procedures laid out by the Chinese Government. This means that some of the biggest names in the beauty industry MAC, L'Oreal, Estée Lauder and Avon (to name a few) who have come under scrutiny in recent years for agreeing to the Chinese animal testing policies in order to market themselves in the country will still be unable to claim Cruelty-free status.

Further information regarding the bill can be found here - Chemical Inspection and Regulation Service

One small step it may be but this is one giant leap forward for China.

Main Image: Via Wikipedia -  Apollo 11 Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin's bootprint. Aldrin photographed this bootprint about an hour into their lunar extra-vehicular activity on July 20, 1969, as part of investigations into the soil mechanics of the lunar surface. This photo would later become synonymous with humankind's venture into space.