Cruelty Free Labelling of Cosmetics The Truth

As the Australian Programmes Manager for the global nonprofit Cruelty Free International here in Australia, I am very passionate about educating consumers about animal testing in cosmetics and helping them make informed, humane choices when they shop. In this article, Cruelty Free Labelling of Cosmetics The Truth, I am going to unearth some disappointing and deceitful facts about supposedly cruelty free cosmetics, and show you that there is a way to ensure the products you buy are truly as cruelty free as they claim to be.

FACT! You simply can’t trust alone, the “cruelty free” – “not tested on animals” claims written on packaging, or similar types of statements featured on a cosmetic company’s own website.

Cruelty Free Cosmetic Labelling Facts

There Are No Laws Regulating Cruelty Free Claims. At the time of writing this article, (May 2017) there are absolutely no government laws here in Australia, or overseas in the USA, that have set out to define the term “cruelty free” and “not tested on animals. This leaves manufactures free to label their products how they see fit. See the FDA’s 2014 statement here “Cruelty Free/ Not Tested On Animals”.

Any cosmetics manufacture is legally able to pop their own version of a cruelty free bunny logo, or write cruelty free statements on their packaging and websites.

Often those on-selling cosmetic products, believe they are selling cruelty free products simply because they are told by the company that the company do not test on animals. Maybe the company don’t, but they may commission others to test on their behalf, or they may be owned by a parent company that DO test on animals. Or they may sell into China, who do require animal testing of all cosmetics imported into their company for sale.

But The Company Is On Another Cruelty Free List

Many cosmetics companies are listed overseas on other cruelty free lists, and often when I approach and invite them to apply for ‘free’, cruelty free accreditation here in Australia, they reply, “but we are already on such and such a list”, in whatever country it is.

Usually they reply that they are listed with PETA. While I agree PETA do a great job fighting for animal rights, and their intentions are honourable, their cruelty free shopping list is NOT as strict as I personally would like it to be. Read Cruelty Free Kitty’s correspondence with a listed cruelty free company on the PETA list, to see why.

See my article Vegan or Organic Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Cruelty Free.

Best Cruelty Free Assurance in Australia is…

In Australia there is only one sure way to know if a company is being entirely truthful about it’s cruelty free claims, and that is to cross check that they are also listed on the Leaping Bunny Programme Lists

So please, for all the animals still being subjected to horrific, painful cosmetic testing procedures, always consult it before you buy any cosmetics, skincare, hair care, fragrance products and cleaning products.

Also if you cross-check a company with the Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny Programme list and see that they are not listed, but see that they are using the official leaping Bunny logo on their websites or packaging, please immediately report this to Cruelty Free International as this logo is a copyrighted trademark and it is illegal to use it without permission.