A positive step forward for animals, as animal testing and the trade in cosmetics have been officially banned in Canada. The bill was passed by the Canadian government yesterday as part of the Budget Execution Act (Bill C-47). In addition to the ban on animal testing of cosmetics, the amendments will also prohibit the sale of cosmetics based on new animal testing data to establish the safety of the product and false or misleading labeling in relation to animal testing of cosmetics.
The animal rights activists Humane Society International (HSI) / Canada, Animal Alliance Canada and Cruelty Free International as well as Cosmetics Alliance Canada, Lush Cosmetics and the Body Shop have been working closely with the Canadian government for several years to promote workable laws banning cosmetic animal testing in Canada.
The coalition is pleased that Canada is now joining more than 40 JURISDICTIONS and major markets that have already passed laws to stop or restrict animal testing and/or the sale of cosmetics.
“Testing cosmetics on animals is both cruel and useless. That is why we are proud to advance our promise to ban cosmetic animal testing and trade,” said Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health of the Canadian government. “Animal welfare now and in the future is something that many Canadians are committed to, and now we can all be sure that cosmetics are cruelty-free in Canada, and we will continue to take all necessary steps to improve animal welfare.”
“A decade of campaigns by HSI/Canada and our partners has given the Canadian beauty industry a cruelty-free makeover. It has been an honor for us to work closely with the Canadian government and all stakeholders to advance these measures over the years, and we are pleased that Canada is passing this landmark law to ban animal testing and the trade in cosmetics,” said Michael Bernard, deputy director of HSI/Canada in WAN.
“Now that this bill has become law, Canadian consumers can be sure that the cosmetics they buy are not the result of animal suffering—and we can all look forward to that,” Bernard continued.
Last week, WAN reported that Canada has taken measures phasing out the use of animals for chemical toxicity testing. We are pleased that Canada continues to prioritize animal welfare with these lowest measures.
“Animal Alliance supporters would like to thank Minister Duclos and Health Canada staff for implementing the ban on animal testing for cosmetics,” said Liz White, director of the Animal Alliance of Canada. “Canada will join the growing number of countries around the world that have stopped such practices, and the government will keep its promise to introduce legislation to end animal cosmetics testing as early as 2023.”
“Cruelty Free International commends the Canadian government for taking action to meet the wishes of the vast majority of Canadian citizens who supported the ban on animal testing for cosmetics,” said Monica Engebretson, director of public affairs for North America at Cruelty Free International. “This is a unified issue that has won the support of all parties in Canada and is consistent with the progress we are seeing around the world as consumers, businesses, regulators and advocates come together to achieve a common goal to ensure that animals do not suffer for cosmetics everywhere.”
