India has announced that testing cosmetics and their ingredients on animals will not be permitted in the country! This decision comes on the heels of recently enacted bans on cosmetics testing on animals in the European Union and Israel.

“Keeping in view the cruelty towards animals involved, the testing of cosmetics on animals will now not be allowed in the country,” said  Drug Controller General of India G N Singh.

He said any such cosmetic products which carry out animal testing will face action as per provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Animal Cruelty Act.

“Any manufacturer interested in testing new cosmetic ingredients or finished products must first seek approval from India’s Central Drug Standards Control Organisation. A manufacturer will be given approval to test only after complying with the BIS non-animal standards,” said an official release from the Humane Society International (HSI)

“The end to cruel and unreliable cosmetics tests on animals in India is a victory for animals and science—and the ban’s compliance with international standards will improve trade avenues for our country,” said PETA India’s science policy adviser, Dr Chaitanya Koduri.

We agree!!

Image Source: Sarah Buckley/Flickr