On March 11 the European Union applied a ban on cosmetics and household cleaning products created with animal testing. Shortly before the EU ban came into play Israel also banned animal testing in cosmetics and household cleaning products. Since then animal welfare groups including Cruelty Free International, PETA and The Humane Society International have continued their efforts to work with other countries to bring them on board. These countries poised for change include India, Korea, Australia and Japan.
Vietnam may be the next country headed in the direction of banning all cosmetics tested on animals. Vietnam is one of 10 countries that make up the Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN). ASEAN regulations usually follow the European Union as a model. Although animal testing in cosmetics has been banned in the European Union this is not yet the case with ASEAN. Vietnam is the only country left in this group that also includes Indonesia and Thailand that is still testing on animals. All this may potentially change due to a collaboration between Vietnam and the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS) thanks to a grant from Cruelty Free International. IIVS is working closely with the Vietnamese government who has been very receptive. There is a good chance that Vietnam is getting closer to eliminating animal testing in cosmetics.
India looks like they are also heading in this direction. The Drug Controller General of India has recently deleted two forms of animal testing that include acute oral toxicity as well as oral mucosal irritation tests as of February. Korea is also considering joining in on banning animal testing in cosmetics. Japan is heading in that direction as well and Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido recently announced their decision to go cruelty-free.
IIVS is also known for their extensive work with the Chinese government. PETA has been financially supporting IIVS's work with China to educate the government about alternative methods (in vitro) to animal testing. China has been receptive but they are still way behind other countries as far as change. As of now all cosmetics sold and marketed to China must go through mandatory animal testing. After years of being cruelty-free companies including Mary Kay, Avon, and Estee Lauder have abandoned their ethics and began animal testing to take advantage of the Chinese market. These greedy companies will miss out in markets including Israel, the European Union as well as other countries that continue to ban animal testing.
