Effective Action Needed Now to End Animal Testing of Cosmetics

The National Party members of the Primary Production Committee today rejected a ban on animal testing of cosmetics being carried out in New Zealand. A need for more time to consider it was given as the reason why.

The New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society (NZAVS) is opposed to all animal testing of cosmetics and their ingredients no matter where it is done. NZAVS say that a ban on the import and sale of such products, as has been done already overseas, needs to be implemented here.

“The next Government now has an obligation to address this issue effectively. We need to do what has already been done in the European Union and stop all animal tested cosmetics from being sold here. The import and sale of animal tested cosmetics and cosmetics using animal tested ingredients needs to end. This is the only thing that will stop this unnecessary animal testing that the public doesn’t want.” said NZAVS spokesperson Stephen Manson.

“Our animal welfare legislation was never the best way to stop animal testing of cosmetics; it was just a small step in the right direction. All it would likely do was stop any animal testing being carried out in New Zealand, it would not reduce the demand for or acceptability of animal testing data for products sold here. The tests are what matters, not where they are done.

“Data from the infamous Draize test that requires chemicals to be forced into rabbit’s eyes and applied to their skin is still a requirement in our regulations. Relying on 70 year-old tests to assess risk needs to end. The regulations for new products need to be changed to no longer use such unreliable information. 21st century science needs to be used in a 21st century society.

“New Zealand is lagging behind the rest of the world on this. We are one of the few developed countries that don’t have legislation along these lines already passed or in the pipeline. Our government has some catching up to do if we are to remain in step with our global partners.”

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