China have finally accepted alternatives to animal testing on cosmetics products

China is one of the biggest beauty markets in the world, but up until recently all products (including imported ones) were required by law to undergo animal testing before hitting the shelves.
This would leave brands with one of two choices: miss out on a massive revenue opportunity or subject to animal testing.
But come 2020 this will no longer be the (entire) case.
RELATED: The beauty products you had no idea were vegan
RELATED: Where to find sustainable activewear in Australia
The Chinese government has finally approved nine alternative testing methods for cosmetic products, and reportedly will be pushing these as the preffered avenue for pre-market approval. In a statement released by the Institute for In Vitro Sciences, these new regulations will go into effect as of January 1, 2020.
While the announcement is encouraging and a step in the right direction, The Humane Society International have pointed out that this is no guarantee that pre-market or post-market testing will cease in China entirely.
Speaking at a COVERGIRL event in Sydney, Michelle Thew, CEO of Cruelty Free International said there was a time she never thought cruelty-free products would be possible in China, but now there is hope and the business is working towards making it a reality.
Brands registered with Cruelty Free International undergo a rigorous examination to ensure no animal testing is used at any point along the product supply chain, and are automatically ineligible for certification if they distrubte in China.
It's for the reason that the leaping bunny logo is trusted and the one to look for when shopping cruelty-free.
There may still be a long way to go, but the news of China's progress is a step in the right direction for animal and beauty lovers alike.
Did you prefer to shop cruelty-free beauty products?
You might also like
60 Member Comments
This is a great step! I remember when vegetarianism was rare, but now veganism & cruelty-free are becoming much more mainstream.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
This is a great step! I remember when vegetarianism was rare, but now veganism & cruelty-free are becoming much more mainstream.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
What a great step forward, alternatives to animal testing in China is welcome news.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
1 January is not far away so it will be interesting to see what changes occur, if any.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
This is good to know, what other countries or companies still do testing?
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Such great news
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
This is such an awesome news.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Yes. A thousand times yes to cruelty-free products! I will always chose them over other options.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
One step forward. Hopefully animal testing will be outlawed worldwide.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Wonderful news. It always seemed so odd that China had this law where animal testing MUST be done for a beauty product to be sold in China, even when the same product has been available in other international markets for years.
One step closer to getting rid of animal testing, but removing the mandatory testing law does not mean that there will be no animal testing.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Its a very strange law in the first place for a country that has all sorts of other anti human rights policies and shady things going on.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Feels like China has finally stepped up to the standards beauty lovers expect!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
So glad to see China making this change! So many brands are going to be fully cruelty free now
Although I wish a lot of them just stopped selling in China years ago! Would have made this happen sooner
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
It's going in the right and ethical direction, we will have to wait and see.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
That's great! About time. Let's hope its true!!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Yay! Took long enough.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Hopefully as the article states....its the start. With luck this will continue and we will end up living in a world where there is no animal testing.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Animals aren’t meant for testing, about time that the beauty industry stopped using them
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 1
This is a good step in the right direction, although it defies belief that in 2020 this is a topic still being debated. The rest of the world started moving in that direction back in the '80's...
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Catch up China.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
About time, this animal testing should stop soon.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
About time, would like to know what the alternatives are though.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 1