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South Korea to End Animal Testing on Finished Cosmetics

KFDA announced its intent to eliminate animal testing for finished products and in the coming months will make provisions about the permitted alternatives to animal testing along with more specific implementation procedures. In the interim the KFDA will further consider instituting a ban on animal testing of cosmetics ingredients.

Following in the footsteps of the EU and India, South Korea will join the countries dedicated to banning animal testing of cosmetics. South Korea will become the second country to implement such a policy in Asia after India issued consecutive bans, starting with a ban on domestic animal testing of cosmetics which was shortly followed by a ban on imported cosmetics tested on animals (see CL news on 11 November 2014). KFDA announced its intent to eliminate animal testing for finished products and in the coming months will make provisions about the permitted alternatives to animal testing along with more specific implementation procedures. In the interim the KFDA will further consider instituting a ban on animal testing of cosmetics ingredients.

“We found the Korean authorities to be quite open to our arguments, partly because Korea is keen to stay broadly in line with international trading practice, and following the European and Indian bans and progress elsewhere from Brazil to New Zealand, the overall trend towards a global end to testing of animals for cosmetics is clear.” says Nick Palmer our long term friend and Director of Policy at Cruelty Free International. “We look forward to working with them on the next stages – the implementation of the finished product ban and the review of the potential for an ingredients ban.”

This follows the approach taken in the European Union which began banning the testing of cosmetic products on animals in 2003 and finalized a phase out of the sale of new cosmetic products containing ingredients tested on animals in 2013. The implementation of the blanket EU ban has taken extended and concerted effort on the part of the member states and European authorities. Nick Palmer stated that in comparison, finalizing a ban on animal testing of finished product is easier due to the fact that a minority of finished cosmetics is tested on animals. “Banning tests for cosmetic ingredients is more complex, partly because questions of definition arise – what exactly is a cosmetic ingredient, for instance? – Something only used for cosmetics, or 95%, or 51%, or what? What happens if it’s initially a cosmetic ingredient but another use appears?” Although there is still lots of work to do before a total ban is realized, it is expected that South Korea will use the momentum generated by this latest legislative change to expedite the complete phase out of animal tested products and ingredients in its markets.

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