Brands can avoid mandatory animal testing by not selling in a way that requires it and by not using ingredients or formulations that require animal testing. A brief summary describing how and why animal testing is used in the commercial products industry. The summary examines the Animal Welfare Act and its effects on animal experimentation. In addition, the summary attempts to explain the complexity of debates on animal testing and some of the arguments put forward by animal rights activists and proponents of the use of animal testing. The USDA`s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) conducts zoo licenses and inspections to ensure compliance with the minimum standards of care required by the Animal Welfare Act. If you have any concerns about zoos or zoo animals, contact the APHIS regional office responsible for the geographic area where the zoo is located. New ingredients and formulations that have not yet proven their safety need to be tested on animals in the US, EU and many other countries. Regulations and laws govern the marketing of many commercial products, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, pesticides and food additives, that could be potentially hazardous or pose a threat to human health or the environment. Some of these commercial products are tested on animals. Commercial products are tested on animals to ensure product safety for consumers. For example, mascaras, shampoos and perfumes are usually tested on rabbits` eyes and often the animals` eyelids are forcibly held open for better absorption.
In many countries, government regulations require animal toxicity testing as a condition of importing or selling pesticides, industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, vaccines, genetically modified foods, and certain consumer products. Depending on the type of product, the likely toxicity and the expected level of exposure to humans or the environment, testing on hundreds or thousands of animals may be required by law.1 These tests force animals – including birds, dogs, fish, guinea pigs, mice, rabbits, rats and monkeys – to swallow or inhale a test substance. or a chemical is applied to their skin or eyes. These tests and the non-animal methods they can replace are described below. Animal-free methods and strategies are often cheaper, faster and more predictive of human health outcomes. Although not required by law, several invasive tests are performed on rabbits, mice, guinea pigs and rats. These may include: Animals housed in the same primary pen must be compatible and must not be placed near animals that affect their health or cause them discomfort. The results of animal studies can also vary widely, even between two species (such as mice and rats), and difficult to interpret. Unreliable and ineffective animal testing means that consumer safety cannot be guaranteed. In contrast, non-animal alternatives, such as tests based on human cells and sophisticated computer models, can provide results that more accurately predict human responses. Non-animal alternatives can also be faster and cheaper than animal testing.
The objective of the IACUC is to review and approve protocols involving animals and to ensure compliance. Committees are often criticized for being too complacent with researchers, leading to lax self-regulation. Our brand does not conduct animal testing or solicit others to do so on its behalf, except as required by law. In China, almost all cosmetics and beauty products must be tested on animals. That is something that the government regulates. The government conducts the testing, but brands that sell in China must pay for and accept the animal testing. In experiments, animals in laboratories endure not only pain and fear, but also inhumane living conditions. For example, social animals are often isolated for long periods of time; Food and/or water may be preserved; mothers and babies are separated; Animals are confined in small, sterile cages that bear no resemblance to their natural environment; And animals are exposed to loud noises and bright lights that are unnatural and stressful for them.
Together with our partner Humane Society International, we are committed to ending animal testing forever. With our “Be Cruelty-Free” campaign, we are working in the United States and around the world to create a world where animals no longer have to suffer to make lipstick and shampoo. It was super helpful. So the bottom line for me is that they need to stop testing it, and we need to push brands to use this as a loophole to reduce $hit! You can also help increase the number of companies that meet the Leaping Bunny standard by requiring companies to certify their products as cruelty-free. If a brand you`re considering isn`t on the Leaping Bunny list, contact the company and ask if their products or ingredients are tested on animals at any stage of the manufacturing process. Also ask if the company sells its products in China, which requires animal testing for some cosmetics. Download a sample letter/email for ideas on how to formulate your request and check the company`s product or website for contact information. More information on animal-free methods can be found here. Government regulations in some countries have not kept pace and have taken into account the efficiency, cost reduction and overall safety of alternatives to animal testing.
Scientific validity Most animal experiments used today have never been scientifically validated according to internationally recognized criteria to prove that they predict outcomes for human health or environmental hazards.9 The reliability, accuracy and relevance of their results are always questionable and subject to very different interpretations, as explained here. The way forward is to convince the world`s governments, both individually and through international organizations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, to become more involved in the development and application of sophisticated methods of animal-free experimentation. For example, after decades of involvement by scientists from PETA and other organizations, the EPA announced that it would end its reliance on mammalian toxicity testing by 2035 and provide funding to researchers working to develop animal-free methods. There are very few countries that require animal testing for cosmetics. China is the largest market that has some sort of requirement for cosmetic testing on animals. According to the Federal Animal Protection Act (AWA), animals used in experiments must be provided with adequate housing, treatment, veterinary care, food and water. However, the vast majority of animals used in research are excluded from AWA protection measures. In addition, there is an exception to the protection of the TAZ if a researcher determines that it is not scientifically necessary or that it would negatively impact the results of the trials. As a result, many of the existing laws and regulations, including the LTA and many state anti-cruelty laws, are often ineffective. The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) came into force on August 24, 1966. It is the only federal law in the United States that regulates the treatment of animals in research, teaching, testing, display, transportation, and by merchants. The law is enforced by USDA, APHIS, Animal Care.
When animal testing is required by law, these tests are often not carried out by the brand itself, but by a 3rd party company or local governments. In both cases, however, the brand pays for animal testing and is aware that this is happening. The brand accepts that animal tests are carried out on its products. The Public Health Service (PHS) oversees the two federal agencies that perform the most animal testing: the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 41 countries have banned animal testing, only 21% have this ban. There are many brands that say they are cruelty-free and do not test on animals unless required by law.
