The Government has bowed to lobbying and will move to ban the use of animals for testing "finished cosmetics products and ingredients" - even though there is no known example of that in New Zealand.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy said the change would be made as an amendment to the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill.

"To the best of our knowledge there never has been any animal testing for cosmetics in New Zealand, but this amendment will send an important message that this kind of testing is unacceptable to New Zealanders and will never happen here," Guy said.

The supplementary order paper (SOP) was debated on Tuesday.

The ban would apply to animal testing in New Zealand for finished cosmetic products and ingredients, where those ingredients are being tested for the exclusive purpose of developing a cosmetic.

"The Government has decided to introduce an alternative to the original SOP introduced by Green MP Mojo Mathers because of concerns the wording may have been too broad. This could lead to unintended consequences such as banning testing on ingredients in medicines that New Zealanders depend on."

He thanked Mathers for her work on the issue.

"Although the Government has introduced slightly alternative wording, this amendment still captures the principle of her SOP.

"It's important to note we already have a strong framework for any animal testing done in New Zealand. Any testing for products like medicines has to be approved by an independent ethics committee and has to show the benefits will outweigh any harm caused."

Mathers said it was a great day for animals and animal-lovers in New Zealand and she was "over the moon" the Government had acknowledged her work on the issue.

"I have been working solidly behind the scenes to get this ban through Parliament for some time now. During the course of this campaign, thousands of Kiwis signed petitions and emailed and lobbied MPs to support my call to ban cosmetics testing on animals," Mathers said.

"It's fantastic that we will now be able to hold our head up high as a country and say that we too have banned this cruel and outdated practice."

She said it was heart-warming so many people really cared about animals and the way they are treated.