Zhejiang Opens Laboratory Exclusively Offering Alternatives to Animal Testing of Cosmetics

Takehome:

Zhejiang province has opened a new laboratory exclusively offering alternatives to animal testing of cosmetics.

The alternative methods lab is available to both domestic and international cosmetic enterprises and is a scientific collaboration between the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS) and Zhejiang Institute for Food and Drug Control (ZJIFDC). Prior to the opening of the lab, ZJIFDC engaged in research on international best practices in the area of alternatives to animal testing in order to ensure the lab would meet international standards. Additionally, IIVS also provided technical training including implementation, execution and data interpretation.

The opening of the lab is the latest in a series of actions which underline China's effort to build capacities and infrastructure in alternatives to animal testing of cosmetics which are no doubt paving the way for a more significant change in China's cosmetic regulatory framework. Further, Zhejiang Province only has been researching 5 types of non-animal testing methods since 2013. If these methods are approved, they can be instantly conducted in the new lab.