|
In Europe, animal testing of cosmetic ingredients ended in March 2009, yet testing continues elsewhere in the world, for products made and sold in Europe. This is set to continue until a total ban of products that contain animal-tested ingredients comes into effect in 2013.
Over the years competition to produce the next new thing in “miracle” skin-creams and personal care has fuelled the development of thousands of new cosmetic ingredients. L'Oréal and it’s contemporaries has been at the forefront of developing new ingredients that necessitate further animal testing.
The legislation adopted in 2003, and which will come into full effect in March 2013, has undoubtedly provided an added impetus to the search for non-animal alternatives. Non-animal alternatives are the way forward, towards implementing not only a total ban on cosmetic testing, but replacing animal testing for other purposes too. Each of the tests listed below no longer use animals:
- Draize eye irritation test adopted in September 2009, and Skin irritation test adopted in July 2010, spare millions of rabbits. See Press Release
- Skin Corrosion - Two tests were adopted in 2000, both replace the previous animal tests.
- Phototoxicity - The In vitro 3T3 NRU Phototoxicity Test was also adopted in 2000, it replaces the previous animal tests.
- Skin absorption - The In vitro Skin Absorption Test was adopted in 2008, to replace the previous animal test.
It’s vitally important that pressure to end animal testing of cosmetics is maintained. As the example below shows, the issue is still some way yet from being resolved. |
Kao Corporation's Blemished Record
As recently as April 2008, patents for a new animal model for pigment spots were filed both in Europe and the United States. This new animal testing method involves grafting human skin onto an animal, that is then subjected to experiments to evaluate skin lightening ingredients and pigment spots.
As a company which was commended in 2003 by the Japanese Society of Alternatives to Animal Experiments, we are deeply saddened and appalled that Kao Corporation continues to use animals in research, merely to evaluate ingredients destined for skin lightening creams and pigment spots.
Naturewatch wrote to Kao Corporation in 2009 urging them to withdraw the patents, on the grounds that animal testing methods are unethical, and wholly inappropriate. Click here to view letter. Click here to read Naturewatch's open letter to Kao Corporation [pdf]
Kao Corporation produce Bioré skincare, Jergens, John Freida haircare and Kanebo Cosmetics. In addition, Kao Corporation acquired Molton Brown in 2005.
- Click here to view European Patent Application for Animal Model for Hyperpigmentation submitted by Kao Corporation [pdf]
- Click here to view Naturewatch Press Release regarding Kao Corporation [pdf]
|