An amendment to the Animal Welfare Act of New Zealand, pertaining to the banning of animal testing of cosmetics and their ingredients was voted through on Mar 31 2015 by the New Zealand parliament. Under the revised Animal Welfare Act, animal testing of finished cosmetics and ingredients intended exclusively for use in cosmetics will be illegal anywhere in New Zealand. However, the current testing ban does not apply to so-called “dual use” ingredients — substances that may be regulated under chemical law or fall under the remit of other regulations. The AWA does not impose restrictions on the import and sale of cosmetics tested on animals in other countries.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy said that it was “highly unlikely” that such testing would be approved, but had not yet excluded the possibility of ingredient testing. Following a Green Party proposal by MP Mojo Mathers, Mr. Guy has now pledged a full ban.
Stephen Manson for #BeCrueltyFree New Zealand said, “This is a positive step for New Zealand to move away from animal testing of cosmetics. We hope that the next move by the government will be to end the import and sale of animal tested cosmetics. ”
New Zealand now becomes the first Australasian country to ban cosmetics animal testing, aligned with EU, India and Israel in their regulatory stance on cruelty free cosmetics. “This move adds to the momentum across the globe to end the antiquated practice of animal tests for cosmetics and their ingredients, and we are now looking to Australia to follow suit.” Michelle Thew, Cruelty Free International CEO, noted.
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