India Places Ban on Animal Testing for Cosmetics

This June, the Indian government banned cosmetic animal testing and made cruelty-free alternatives the new industry standard. According to news source The Hindu, anyone using animals for cosmetics testing will be in violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Animal Cruelty Act, and will be subject to fines or other forms of punishment. Not only was the legislation hailed by animal-welfare groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Humane Society International, but it gained the support of celebrities and the country’s political officials, such as Congress president Sonia Gandhi. “This is a major victory for countless animals who will no longer be made to suffer, and it is a proud moment for India as it becomes the first country in South Asia to end cosmetics cruelty,” says Alokparna Sengupta, the manager of HSI India’s Be Cruelty-Free campaign.