Canada’s ban prohibiting cosmetics animal testing and trade is enacted into law and has been into effect since December 22. This legislation which was enacted as part of the Budget Implementation Act (Bill C-47) in June 2023, bans cosmetic animal testing and the sale of products relying on new animal testing data to establish safety. It also prevents misleading labeling regarding animal testing for cosmetics. Canada now has joined the ranks of the European Union, Australia, the United Kingdom and South Korea, which have all moved to ban cosmetic testing on animals. It is the 44th country in the world and the 2nd in North American (after Mexico) to pass laws to end or limit cosmetics animal testing and sales. The United States has yet to pass the federal Humane Cosmetics Act, despite of the fact that 11 states (such as New York, Virginia, California, Louisiana, New Jersey, Maine, Hawaii) have already adopted their own cruelty-free cosmetics legislation.
The bill initially entered the House of Commons in April 2023 and was granted royal assent on June 22. Traditionally, cosmetic testing involved subjecting animals to “toxicity tests,” involving the ingestion, inhalation, or application of chemicals to their skin or eyes. These tests which are unnecessarily cruel, are less efficient compared to modern evaluation methods such as computer modeling or tests employing human cells. Since 2000, over 50 alternative methods have been developed by researchers to test ingredient safety in products like mascara, lotion, and aftershave without the use of animals.
As ethical concerns around animal testing in cosmetics rise, researchers are increasingly seeking alternative methods. The zebrafish model has emerged as a promising option for replacing the traditional use of animals. Within the cosmetics industry, there’s significant demand for products aimed at skin brightening and antioxidant protection against free radical damage. At the Zebrafish Centre for Drug Discovery, located at CREM Co Labs, we’ve successfully validated two models in the zebrafish larvae for assessing the efficacy of compounds and extracts in developing novel products for skin lightening and antioxidant properties.
Extracted from News releases of the following sources:
- Vegan Food and Living
- Cruelty Free International