In a move that signifies growing discontent in animal testing, the Coalition has pledged to ban animal testing in beauty if the Turnbull Government is re-elected into power.
Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ken Wyatt announced the ban would include the testing of finished cosmetic products on animals in Australia, as well as the testing of cosmetic ingredients, and the sale of products that have been tested on animals outside of the country.
He comments on the subject: “We no longer need to test cosmetics on animals and many countries, including the European Union, have banned the use of cosmetic ingredients tested on animals. I can’t see any reason why Australia shouldn’t follow suit which is why a Coalition government will legislate this change if re-elected.”
The ban would not extend to responsible animal testing for medicinal clinical trials, medicinal drug development or medicinal studies. But Wyatt comments: “We acknowledge animal testing is essential in certain scientific contexts such as medicinal drug development but we want to make sure that it’s only used in ethically justifiable circumstances.”
