New Cosmetics Testing Regulations in China Could Spare Thousands of Animals
New regulations drafted by China’s National Medical Product Administration, if passed, will ban senseless, cruel tests on animals – sparing thousands of lives.
The Administrative Measures for the Filing of Non-Special Use Cosmetics are still currently in draft form. But if passed, the relevant provision could allow companies selling imported non–special use cosmetics – such as shampoo, body wash, lipstick, and lotion – in China to avoid the requirements for tests on animals.
What’s the Current Situation?
Currently, the Chinese government requires tests on animals for all imported cosmetics and any special use cosmetics, regardless of where they were manufactured. The proposed new measure would bring the regulation of imported non–special use cosmetics in line with the requirements for those made domestically in China. We are cautiously optimistic and will be following developments closely so we can update our members and supporters.
In addition to the potential change in regulations, the Chinese government recently approved two non-animal methods for testing cosmetics products in China. This major progress is thanks to the groundbreaking work of the expert scientists and regulatory specialists at the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS), which PETA US provided with initial funding to train Chinese scientists and inform government officials about modern, non-animal methods.
In 2012, PETA US revealed that some formerly cruelty-free companies had quietly started paying the Chinese government to test their products on animals in order to sell them in that country. At the time, tests on animals were required for any cosmetics sold in China. PETA US immediately contacted the leading experts in the field of non-animal test methods at IIVS and supplied them with the initial grant to launch their work in China.
Following that stunning exposé and the on-the-ground work by IIVS and some corporations, the Chinese government began accepting the results of non-animal test methods for non–special use cosmetics manufactured in China.
Support Companies That Never Test on Animals
By purchasing only cruelty-free products, you can spare sensitive rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, rats, and other animals a lifetime of suffering in excruciating tests and a miserable death in a laboratory. Need help finding out which products are cruelty-free? We’ve got you covered: the PETA US “Beauty Without Bunnies” database currently lists more than 4,000 compassionate companies that don’t test on animals anywhere in the world.
Other Ways to Help Animals in Laboratories
Please take action to help end all experiments on animals – use our action alerts to fire off messages to decision-makers and add your name to PETA’s crucial petitions and open letters:
