Written by Emma Luimes
The Labor Party is calling on Australians to have their say about animal testing in the Cosmetics and Animal Testing Policy Consultation.
The consultation is a commitment made by the party last year in an effort to phase out the importation, manufacture, sale and advertising of cosmetics and ingredients that are tested on animals in Australia.
Your participation in the consultation will help to put an end to animal cruelty.
Similar campaigns in other countries have been successful in phasing out animal testing on the final product and their ingredients.
Animal testing on products and ingredients has been banned in the UK since 1998 and in the EU since 2009.
Animals are not used to test cosmetics in Australia. However, the RSPCA says that the majority of cosmetics sold in Australia have been tested in other countries and contain ingredients that involve animal testing in products like makeup, soap, deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste and sunscreen.
We recommend checking labels thoroughly and avoiding ‘new and improved’ cosmetics to reduce the amount of animal testing conducted.
For a guide to buying ethical cosmetics in Australia, visit the Choose Cruelty Free website.
Go to the RSPCA website for further information on animal testing, as well as a guide to writing submissions to the Cosmetics and Animal Testing Policy Consultation.
Help to ban the exploitation of animals by sending your submission to cosmeticstestingpublicsubmission@australianlabor.com.au
Written submissions are due by 29 August.