Canada Officially Bans Cosmetic Animal Testing and Trade

The fight for cruelty-free beauty in Canada has seen a significant breakthrough as the Canadian government legislates a full ban on cosmetic animal testing and trade, marking a victory for Animal rights advocates and eco-conscious consumers.

This landmark decision is part of the Budget Implementation Act (Bill C-47), not only prohibiting cosmetic animal testing but also putting an end to the sale of cosmetics that use new animal testing data for safety substantiation. It additionally clamps down on false or misleading labeling related to animal testing in cosmetics.

This reform comes as a result of persistent effort from Humane Society International/Canada, Animal Alliance Canada, Cruelty Free International, Cosmetics Alliance Canada, Lush Cosmetics, and The Body Shop. Together, they collaborated with the Canadian government to work out a practical legislation to phase out animal testing in the cosmetic industry.

Canada now joins the league of over 40 jurisdictions that have already legislated laws to curb or outrightly ban cosmetics animal testing and/or sales.

Jean-Yves Duclos, the Canadian Health Minister, expressed his pride in progressing towards a cruelty-free cosmetics market, reinforcing the commitment towards animal welfare.

Michael Bernard, the Deputy Director of Humane Society International/Canada, celebrated this milestone as a major step towards a cruelty-free transformation for Canada. He applauded the collaborative effort between the government, industry, non-profit sector, and the public that made this a reality.

Cosmetics Alliance Canada’s President and CEO, Darren Praznik, also commended the collaborative work that led to the ban, stating that the new regulation perfectly fits within the Canadian regulatory framework.

Supporters of Animal Alliance of Canada, led by Director Liz White, extended their gratitude to Minister Duclos and Health Canada staff for actualizing the cosmetics animal testing ban. Similarly, Cruelty Free International’s Head of Public Affairs North America, Monica Engebretson, praised the government for aligning with the majority of Canadian‘s wishes.

Lush Cosmetics North America’s Chief Ethics Officer, Brandi Halls, lauded the move, expressing the company’s pride in contributing to the ban. Hilary Lloyd, VP of Marketing and Corporate Responsibility at The Body Shop North America, similarly acknowledged this legislative achievement as a victory for their ongoing efforts since their first anti-animal testing initiative in 1989.

As Canada steps into a new era of cruelty-free cosmetics, it sets an example for countries worldwide to reassess their regulations regarding animal testing.

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Related Content:

• Petition: Keep Ban on Cosmetic Animal Testing in the UK
• China Will No Longer Require Post-Market Cosmetic Animal Testing!
• Millions Ask U.S. Japan and Canada to Finally Ban Cosmetic Animal Testing
• Brazil Finally Bans Cosmetics Testing On Animals
• Canada Set to Ban Cosmetic Testing on Animals

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