Animal Testing Of Cosmetics Do Your Part To Stop it

We all love our own family animal members and do all we can to keep them safe, happy and healthy. We would be horrified and outraged if they were subjected to any type of deliberate pain and suffering. In this article Animal Testing Of Cosmetics Do Your Part To Stop, it I ask you all then to let’s take the next step and extend that care and compassion to the poor animals bred and used for cosmetic animal experiments by Choosing To Go Cruelty Free.

The Importance Of Choosing Cruelty Free Accredited Products

We can all make a difference and it is simply by choosing to convert over to a cruelty free lifestyle and by buying products from ‘CERTIFIED’ cruelty free companies.

Unfortunately it is simply not enough to trust that a company may label or verbally claim that they are cruelty free or against animal testing, you want to know that this company has taken the steps to become ‘certified’ cruelty free by an independent, non-profit organization, that has very strict accreditation standards such the global non-profit organisation Cruelty Free International and their Leaping Bunny Programme.

* On June 1st 2021 Choose Cruelty Free Australian merged into Cruelty Free International – read about the merge here

See article – Cruelty Free Cosmetics, How To Be Sure Your Cosmetics Truly Are Not Being Tested On Animals.

Millions upon millions of animals each year are still forced to endure barbaric and painful tests. Tragically more often than not these animals do not survive. The ones that do live are horribly disfigured and chronically ill at the end of these tests and in the end also euthanized when they no longer serve a purpose.

Animal Testing Of Cosmetics, Personal Care & Cleaning Products Is Common Practice

Many people are unaware that animal testing of ingredients and products still occurs, most believe it to be on old-fashioned and outdated practice. People would be stunned to realize that it is still a thriving and multi-billion dollar industry world-wide.

The majority of consumers would be horrified if they knew the truth about animal testing and what these poor animals have to endure so that manufacturers can produce and sell the latest creations of highly synthetic and chemical products; e.g. stay on lipsticks, anti-aging skin creams, fake tans, hair products, teeth whiteners, deodorants, perfumes and even household cleaning products.

One has to ask, if these products are all so toxic and require animal testing, do we honestly want to risk our families and our own health by using such questionable ingredients? Wouldn’t it be better for all of us to choose safe, natural and cruelty-free alternatives?

It pays to remember that what affects an animal may not affect us the same way and vice versa. So animal testing is actually not a very reliable method to deem the safety of an ingredient.

One common test laboratory animals are subjected to is the horrific, Lethal Dose Test. This is where restrained animals are forced fed an ingredient in order to determine what amount of the substance will cause symptoms then death. Some other excruciatingly painful test animals commonly suffer through, is having a substance dropped into their eyes, or rubbed onto their skin, till a severe reaction or death occurs.

See a list of the most commonly conducted animal tests How Cosmetics Are Actually Tested On Animals – Animal Testing Of Cosmetics What You Should Know

There Is No Excuse, There Are Humane Alternatives To Testing Cosmetics On Animals

These days manufacturers have a choice. They can choose the inhumane, old-fashioned and often unreliable animal testing methods, (remember what harms an animal, even one as closely genetically related as a chimpanzee, may not harm a human ) or, they can choose the humane and ethical, modern and technologically advanced testing methods, that no longer require animals to test the toxicity of an ingredient.

This article by Humane Research Australia, aptly named Replacing Animals, explains just how inaccurate and outdated the old animal testing methods actually are and all about the highly advanced and humane, testing alternatives now available. When you read this article it really makes you question the reasons on why governments still allow animal testing to continue. Could it be that there is some politics and also financial gain behind animal testing?

Countries Banning Animal Testing Of Cosmetics – All Is Not What It Appears

India, New Zealand, Israel and Europe have all been proactive in taking steps towards ending cosmetics testing on animals.

New Zealand Bans Cosmetic Testing On Animals

Early in 2015 New Zealand announced a ban on cosmetic testing of animals in their country. I truly applaud them for doing this and ask why on earth isn’t Australia stepping up to the plate on this issue? While this is a great and humane step forward for New Zealand’s animals, there are cracks. New Zealand still allows the sale and import of products tested on animals in other countries. See Bunny Tears – the ugly side of beauty.

India Bans Import of Animal Tested Cosmetics

India is to be commended and highly respected, for it’s ethical stance of being the first country to ban the importation of animal tested cosmetics. The ban came into effect on November 13th 2014 – see more details here.

Europe and Israel Ban Cosmetics Testing On Animals

Just like back in 2013, when the world saw some wonderful and encouraging progress in the war against animal testing with Israel and in March 2013, Europe enforcing a ban on cosmetics that have been tested on animals. All is not as ethical and humane as it seems. Read here what the European Ban on Animal Testing entails. There are loopholes that cosmetic companies can utilize to their advantage.

Here are a few major loopholes that will allow companies to still make use of ingredients that are still being tested on animals.

– They can formulate cosmetics with ingredients that have been tested on animals, provided the tests were carried out ingredients that were for non-cosmetic products, e.g. cleaning chemicals, pharmaceuticals etc.

– European cosmetic companies, can simply test ingredients on animals off-shore and then sell these products in countries like Australia, USA , China and throughout any other county where this ban isn’t enforced. Neither Australia, nor the USA or China, have put into place any sort of ban on animal testing, which means that products sold in Australia can still be from companies that test on animals.

Another very important fact one should know, is that if any cosmetic company wishes to sell their products in China, they will only be allowed into China if the cosmetics have undergone animal testing.

Also this ban on animal testing in Europe covers cosmetics only, it does not cover household cleaning products and other pharmaceuticals that cross the line between cosmetics and medical.

To read more see this article by BBC News UK

Go Cruelty Free And Help Stop Animal Testing Of Cosmetics

There are a lot of simple things we can all do to help put an end to these cruel tests and save animals from unnecessary suffering. It is important to not bury our heads in the sand, we must extend the duty of care we have to our own pets to all animals.

Become a cruelty free shopper! These days it is so easy to buy products from companies that have pledged to never test their products or ingredients on animals. You will find that even major supermarkets now stock cruelty free, safer and more natural based household cleaning, personal and baby care products. These products are becoming increasingly more popular and therefore are no longer more expensive than other brands as many people believe.

My article How To Live A Cruelty Free Life Checklist is a great resource guide to help you on your way to cruelty free living.

Shop only from certified cruelty free companies. This is important as many companies can claim they are cruelty free and yet they may be hiding behind clever loopholes and wording; e.g. are against animal testing. This is very clever and deceptive wording, as it does not actually state that the product is not tested! For a list of approved cruelty free brands see Cruelty Free International.

Educate others, let family and friends know that animal testing still occurs and show them by example how easy it is to be a cruelty free shopper. Let them try your cruelty free products, or buy them cruelty free gifts e.g. perfume, cosmetics, skincare.

If you are unsure whether a product you use is truly cruelty free then contact the manufacturer and ask them about their animal testing policies. It is always best to get the answer in writing.

If there are companies that aren’t yet cruelty free, contact them and tell them that you will not buy from them until they adopt a cruelty free policy. Urge them to apply for approval by the independent non-profit organisation Cruelty Free International and their Leaping Bunny Programme.