Beauty Care Products Need to Be Tested
The law doesn’t require companies to test cosmetics on animals before they hit the market. But if a company wants to sell in countries like China where animal testing is required, they must comply with the local regulations. As a result, there are some brands that test on animals and some that don’t. This is an ethical issue for many consumers. In fact, according to a recent survey by Cruelty Free International, 79 percent of respondents would support a ban on cosmetics testing on animals.
There are also practical reasons why people feel that animal testing isn’t necessary. For one, it’s unclear whether the results of these tests can even be reliably translated to humans. This is because animals have a very different biology than humans, and chemicals can react differently depending on what type of organism they’re tested on.
In addition, there are plenty of non-animal methods that can be used to test beauty care products. These methods can be more accurate and cost-effective than using animals, and they’re usually much faster. In fact, the FDA has encouraged companies to use these methods whenever possible.
Regardless of whether they test on animals or not, cosmetics companies face liability risks when developing and selling a new product. They may be held responsible for injuries to customers or the environment caused by a product, and they need to be able to identify potential hazards in order to avoid legal action. As a result, testing of both finished products and chemical ingredients is common.
Do Beauty Care Products Need to Be Tested on Animals?
Some types of animal testing are particularly controversial. For example, the LD50 test is often condemned by animal welfare groups for its inability to translate to human health. The test measures the lethal dose to a group of mice based on how much of a certain chemical they consume. But, as the NRDC points out, the amount of a substance that kills 50% of a mouse population has no bearing on how much might harm a human.
While there are many good reasons to stop using animal-tested cosmetics, the reality is that laws and regulations on this topic vary wildly around the world. Some countries, such as Chile, Israel and Mexico, have banned testing completely; while others, such as China, still require it. As a result, many companies have outsourced their testing to Asia where regulations are less strict and there are fewer checks.
The newest cosmetics tend to be made of mixtures of existing chemicals, and so the vast majority of a product can be tested on non-animal methods before it goes into production. That’s why it’s important to understand labels when shopping for beauty products. A product can say “cruelty-free” but contain one or more animal-derived ingredients (such as honey, beeswax and carmine). A cruelty-free label should always clearly state whether a product is free of any animal-derived ingredients or not.
To help you find beauty products that are cruelty-free, look for the PETA US Beauty Without Bunnies program logo. This program recognises companies that do not perform any animal-testing on their products, but are not certified vegan.
