Australia Proposes Bill to End Cosmetics Animal Testing

The momentum generated by many of the world’s largest cosmetics markets adopting animal free testing strategies is gathering, with countries such as China which were previously staunch adherents to animal testing relaxing their stance. Many of the fence sitting countries have been peer pressured into similar actions and are adopting more ethically sound testing SOP’s. The animal testing issue is now the global cosmetics industry’s major technical barrier to trade and homogenization of legislative and regulatory frameworks is hugely important if countries wish to see continued multilateral trade and growth in their industry. Global successes achieved in China, South Korea, India, Russia, Brazil and Canada in the battle against cosmetics animal testing by the world’s largest anti-animal testing campaigner “Be cruelty free” has provided the impetus for Australian Green Senator Lee Rhiannon to follow suit and propose a bill to end cosmetics animal testing in Australia. If passed successfully this legislative amendment will mark a new era in the Australian cosmetics industry following a year of tireless campaigning by “Be Cruelty-free”. The bill is supported by several federal politicians who may give it the legs needed to stay the course and be successfully entered into Australian law.

The bill mirrors the ban introduced in the EU and will amend the Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Act 1989 to ban cosmetics animal testing within Australia as well as import and sale of cosmetics subjected to animal testing abroad. Senator Lee Rhiannon remarked: “We are very encouraged that MPs from both Labor and the Liberals have pledged their support to the Be Cruelty-Free Australia campaign. This is a very encouraging action and takes us one step to legislating an end to cosmetics animal cruelty in Australia.” The bill is also largely supported by many domestic cruelty-free beauty brands such as “moogoo”, “People for Plants” and “MV Organic”.