The ugly side of the beauty business…

2019 UPDATE: Last week, 18th February 2019 The Australian Senate has passed the Government’s Industrial Chemicals Bills 2017 banning the testing of cosmetics and their ingredients on animals in Australia. This ban also includes the sale of cosmetics and their ingredients (from overseas) which have been newly tested on animals. The ban will not extend to China's cruel mandatory tests. The commencement date for this bill is set for July 2020. This ban is a huge step in the right direction for Australia and something Choose Cruelty Free has been campaigning for, for over 25 years. Read more here.

2019: Australia has delayed the ban on cosmetics testing on animals for the third time until 1 July 2020. “On 1 June 2017, the Industrial Chemicals Bill (the Bill) was tabled in Parliament. The Bill bans the use of data derived from animal tests conducted after the commencement of the new industrial chemicals scheme on (expected 1 July 2020), to support the introduction of a new chemical intended for use in a cosmetic. The Bill was subject to an inquiry by the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee and passed the House of Representatives on 17 October 2017. The Bill is now before the Senate for consideration.” (14 January 2019) Read the full article here.

2018 - “To assist regulated entities to adequately prepare for compliance with the new Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS), the Australian Government has decided to defer commencement of the scheme until 1 July 2019. The new commencement date also means that the aspects of the implementation of the election commitment and the 2017-18 Budget measure to ban the testing of cosmetics on animals that are included in the Industrial Chemicals Bill 2017 will also be delayed until 1 July 2019.” (14 March 2018) Read the full release here.

2017 - The 2017 Federal Budget has revealed that the Coalition Government's promise to save thousands of animal lives starting 1 July 2017 will not eventuate for another 12 months.

"Implementation of the ban will start 1 July 2018 to provide industry with a transition period and align with broader industrial chemical reforms." Read the full release here.

2016 - The Coalition Government (Australia) announces that “a re-elected Turnbull Government will ban the sale of cosmetic products tested on animals. The ban will take effect from 1 July 2017, providing industry and retailers with a defined and reasonable transition period.” (June 2016)

In Australia we continue to import cosmetics tested on animals, even though such procedures are both cruel and unnecessary. By allowing these products to be sold in our country we are effectively supporting the animal testing of cosmetics.

Testing cosmetics on animals has already been banned in the UK, the EU, India, Israel, Norway, New Zealand and several Brazilian states. Many other countries have pledged to introduce similar legislation in the near future. Come on Australia - we can do it too!

With your help, Australia will join the growing list of countries that stop torturing animals for cosmetics.

Choose Cruelty Free (CCF), Humane Research Australia (HRA) and Animals Australia are asking members of the public to join us in petitioning the Australian Government to implement a ban on the sale of all cosmetics that are tested on animals. In support, 37 other Australian groups have endorsed the Petition:

Adore Animals Animal Justice Party Animal Liberation NSW Animal Liberation Queensland Animal Liberation WA Australian Rabbit Save Australian Rat Fanciers Society Beagle Freedom Australia Beagle Rescue Victoria Bendigo Animal Welfare & Community Services (BAWCS) Big Ears Animal Sanctuary Brightside Farm Sanctuary C.A.T.S. Cats Assistance To Sterilise Inc Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses DeathRowPets Australia Edgar's Mission Farm Sanctuary Freedom for Farmed Rabbits Friends of the Animals PERTH Golden Retriever Rescue Halfway Home Animal Rescue Humane Society for Animal Welfare Ingrid's Haven Jane Goodall Institute Australia Melbourne Animal Rescue Melbourne Goat Save Monika's Doggie Rescue National Animal Rescue Groups of Australia (NARGA) Inc Oscar's Law Perth Advocates for the Earth Pound Paws Sentient, The Veterinary Institute for Animal Ethics Sydney Pet Rescue The Australian Vegetarian Society (NSW) The Mark's Ark The Winged Horse Equine Welfare ThinkKind Victorian Dog Rescue & Resource Group

In 2003 the European Parliament and the 15 member states of the EU passed “The 7th Amendment to the Cosmetics Directive” effectively banning the use of animals in cosmetic testing throughout Europe and the import of any cosmetics being tested on animals – regardless of their country of origin. The EU 2013 deadline for a complete ban on testing cosmetics on animals has happened! The ultimate aim being to replace all animals used in testing cosmetics with alternatives that are already available.

Under section 81(1) of the Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Act 1989 (Cth) (“the Act”), the Minister for Health has the power to determine the standards for cosmetics imported into, or manufactured in, Australia.

I call on the Australian government to immediately introduce comprehensive legislation to ensure there is a total ban on the importation and sale of cosmetics tested on animals.

Photo: NZAVS