In Brazil, seven states already veto the practice, including Minas Gerais – this, since July last year
In a recent and important decision, the Chinese government passed a law that ends animal testing in the national cosmetic industry. It represents a huge advance, especially in a country with a history of cruelty to animals.
Previous legislation required all manufactured products to be tested in this way prior to sale. However, by 2020, nine non-testing methods are expected to enter into force in the country. According to the Chinese government, companies that do not follow the new regulation will be fined.
Approval of this regulation required a long wait and a lot of negotiation. The In Vitro Institute of Sciences (IIVS) worked in partnership with the China National Medical Products Association (NMPA) to achieve change.
Together they managed to convince the Chinese government that today’s world no longer accepts animal cruelty and that from now on, companies will have to adapt to this new reality.
In an official statement, the international animal welfare organization Cruelty Free International (CFI) referred to the decision as “an important step” towards the end of animal testing worldwide. “It’s a huge step in the right direction and is very welcome to the rest of the world,” wrote Michelle Thew, CFI’s chief executive.
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China’s decision is in line with Australia’s position earlier this year. In the country, the new law rejects any animal testing as evidence of safety of a product for use, forcing all brands to develop other methods.
The European Union, in turn, banned animal testing of its territories in 2013. In Brazil, seven states have already banned the practice, including Minas Gerais, where a similar law has been in place since July 2018.
Source: Time Writing
