Israel has set into motion a ban on all cosmetics and household cleaning products manufactured by companies that utilize animal testing. The ban on products tested on animals has taken effect as of January 1. The law was passed in 2010 and just yesterday Israel announced that the new regulations are in effect.
Israel is using the European Union as a model. The European Union is also in the final stages of banning cosmetics and household products created with animal testing which will take effect in March. As of now Israel is not forcing businesses to remove items already on the shelves but will block future imports of cosmetics and household cleaning products from companies that engage in animal testing. The exemption to the new regulations are products that are medically necessary.
Israel has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world and animal rights is an important issue there. Animal rights groups in Israel also have been known to launch undercover exposes of animal cruelty and investigations. Israeli animal rights groups are also working to reform religious rituals that are cruel to animals including the transferring of sins to a chicken by swinging it over one's head three times before Yom Kippur.
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