China Takes Major Step Toward Ending Animal Testing

This month, Chinese authorities announced post-market animal testing would no longer be a requirement on finished domestic or imported cosmetic products. Chinese agency Gansu Province National Medical Products Association made the announcement, which applies to pre-market testing on cosmetic products. According to animal-rights organization Cruelty Free International (CFI), the announcement will have a major impact on the cosmetics industry and animal lives alike. “This assurance by the Chinese authorities that post-market animal testing is now not normal practice is an enormous step in the right direction and most welcome,” CFI Chief Executive Michele Thew said. “At this stage, this does not automatically mean that brands can import to China overnight and be cruelty-free, but we are delighted that through cooperation and partnership, our aim to end cosmetics animal testing everywhere and forever is coming closer. We hope that this will pave the way to actual legislative change that will benefit cruelty-free companies and the Chinese consumer as well as many thousands of animals.” CFI is currently hosting a pilot program in China to help vegan companies circumvent animal-testing requirements during the National Medical Products Association product filing process.