It has been over a year since India announced it plans to ban laboratories in the country from using animals in cosmetic testing. The ruling, which came into force at the end of May this year was the first stage in a two phase plan which would potentially spare hundreds of thousands of animals from unnecessary suffering each year.
Last week the second phase of the ban was introduced, so what does this mean for the Indian beauy industry?
On the 13th November 2014, just months after the initial ruling, a complete ban on the import of all cosmetic products tested on animals came into force. The ban, otherwise known as Rule 135-B, means that India will become the first cruelty-free zone in Southern Asia.
The ruling states:
Prohibition of import of cosmetics tested on animals – No cosmetic that has been tested on animals after the commencement of Drugs ans Cosmetics (fifth amendment) Rules, 2014 shall be imported into the country.
Instrumental in the ban was the Humane Society International (HSI) India who, as part of their global Be Cruelty-Free campaign worked closely with the Indian Government and were supported by a number of outside agencies including Blue Cross of India, People for Animals and FIAPO (Federation of India Animal Protection Organisation) in addition to more than thirty legislators.
Speaking to the press, Gauri Maulekhi a Trustee of People for Animals said with regards to the ban:
India has shown outstanding leadership by so swiftly advancing first a ban on cosmetics animal testing and now a ban on animal-tested cosmetics imported from overseas. By working so diligently with the Be Cruelty-Free India campaign, our policy makers have put India on the map as a country transforming its laboratories and regulation from outdated test methods to state-of-the-art science. Animals, consumers, scientists and companies have everything to gain from such modernisation.
The Indian test and import ban mirrors that of the European Union and is another victory for the Be Cruelty-Free campaign, who has notched up a number of significant achievements over the past twelve months. The most notable have been; the removal earlier this year of the mandatory animal testing on certain domestically produced products in China; the introduction of draft test and sale ban legislation from both Australia and USA; the announcement from New Zealand that parliament would debate a testing ban as part of their animal welfare legislation review and the introduction of a ban in the Brazilian state of Sao Paolo.
This dual ban is fantastic news and shows a real commitment for change and progression by the Indian government, however it also highlights the reluctance by some countries to enforce major changes to cosmetic testing in the near future. It is saddening that some counties who, whilst being at the forefront of so many technological and medical advancements can be so slow in implementing change and are only now be bringing the issue of cosmetic testing to the table for serious discussion; If India can turn this total ban around so quickly then it should be possible for others to follow suit.
This dual ban is fantastic news and shows a real commitment for change and progression by the Indian government, however it also highlights the reluctance by some countries to enforce major changes to cosmetic testing in the near future. It is saddening that some counties who, whilst being at the forefront of so many technological and medical advancements can be so slow in implementing change and are only now be bringing the issue of cosmetic testing to the table for serious discussion; If India can turn this total ban around so quickly then it should be possible for others to follow suit.
To find out more about the Be Cruelty-Free campaign, visit Humane Society International
My original post on the proposed ban in India can be read here
Related Posts:
The Slow Boat To China; China’s Animal Testing Ban; EU Animal Testing Ban; The Lush Prize; Why I’m Considering Cancelling My MAC Pro Membership; One Year On: Life Without MAC.
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