Australian campaign
Choose Cruelty Free is calling on the Australian Government to pass legislation banning the import and manufacture of cosmetics and cosmetic ingredients tested on animals. The campaign goal is ambitious but it is achievable.
The 15 member states of the European Union have already passed legislation effectively banning animal safety testing of cosmetics throughout Europe, and the import of any cosmetic or ingredient tested on animals, no matter where it is produced and the ban came into effect in April 2013. Israel, India, Norway, Canada, New Zealand and Taiwan are not far behind the EU – come on Australia, we can do it too!
The mechanisms have now been set in place to move forward from the animal testing of cosmetics to more humane, and more reliable, methods of establishing that products are safe for human use. While Europe has set a commendable example in introducing new laws, Australian regulatory authorities have shown no interest in introducing similar legislation.
Although we import some of our cosmetics from Europe, a substantial amount of our cosmetics come from countries where animal testing is still permitted. If we ever want to be able to freely use products such as make-up, soap, shampoo, deodorant and toothpaste without having blood on our hands, we need to change the regulations in Australia.
Under Section 81(1) of the Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Act 1989, The Minister for Health has the power to determine standards for cosmetics imported into, or manufactured in, Australia. In past years, concerned consumers have inundated the Minister’s office with Choose Cruelty Free campaign postcards, which resulted in the former Labor Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek, announcing a national consultative framework to review the required legislative changes.
Since 2008 caring consumers have distributed more than 170,000 CCF campaign postcards. We are very grateful to any of our supporters who are prepared to distribute postcards on our behalf.
Let’s follow the EU and introduce an Australian ban on the sale of all cosmetics tested on animals!
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