Canada eyes ban on animal testing for cosmetics. What are the alternatives?
Global News
Under the proposed amendments to the Food and Drugs Act included in the 2023 budget, the Canadian government wants to prohibit the testing of cosmetics on animals.
Canada is planning to impose a ban on cosmetic testing on animals — a long-awaited move widely welcomed by wildlife protection advocates and other industry stakeholders who have been calling for an end to the “cruel” practice.
In the 2023 budget released Tuesday, the Liberal government announced they plan to amendment to the Food and Drugs Act to prohibit the testing of cosmetics on animals in the country.
Under the proposed legislation, Ottawa also wants to ban selling cosmetics that rely on animal testing data to establish the product’s safety, with some exceptions.
In addition, the government is looking to clamp down on false or misleading labelling related to cosmetic testing on animals.
Animal rights advocates in Canada have long called for a complete ban on such testing and to move towards non-animal alternatives.
“Canada’s commitment yesterday in the budget to ban cosmetic testing was critical because it is not required, it is unnecessary, it is cruel and painful, it causes suffering and death in animals and all for beauty products,” said Barbara Cartwright, CEO of Humane Canada, in an interview on Wednesday with Global News.
“This is something that should have happened a long time ago,” she added.
Canada’s cosmetic industry is also celebrating the move to end animal testing on products in the country.