Cosmetics animal testing has officially been banned in Canada.
The Canadian Government passed the updated legislation through its Budget Implementation Act on 23 June.
The amendments will prohibit selling cosmetics that rely on new animal testing data to establish the product’s safety.
Including false or misleading labelling pertaining to the testing of cosmetics on animals has also been made illegal.
“Testing cosmetics on animals is both cruel and unnecessary,” said Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, Government of Canada.
“Protecting animals now and in the future is something many Canadians have been advocating for and now, we can all be assured that cosmetics in Canada are cruelty-free, and we will continue to take all necessary measures to improve animal welfare.”
Animal protection advocates Humane Society International/Canada, Animal Alliance Canada and Cruelty Free International have been calling for the new law for a number of years.
Together with Cosmetics Alliance Canada, Lush Cosmetics and The Body Shop, the groups have worked with the Canadian Government to finalise a workable legislation.
Canada will now join over 40 major markets that have already passed laws to end or limit cosmetic animal testing and sales.
“As a company that has been campaigning to bring animal testing for cosmetics to an end since our inception over 25 years ago, today we join all of the stakeholders in celebrating this important moment for the global movement,” added Brandi Halls, Chief Ethics Officer at Lush Cosmetics North America.
“By heeding the call of people across Canada, Minister Duclos and Health Canada are putting Canada on the right side of history by banning this outdated practice.”
