Opposition Announcement on Cosmetics Testing Welcome News for Animals

Animal advocacy group SAFE say they’re delighted at today's announcement from the Labour party that they have committed to a ban on cosmetics testing on animals, plus the sale and import of animal tested products.

The news comes after a two year campaign by SAFE and Humane Society International on the ‘Be Cruelty-Free NZ’ campaign. It also follows a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP), introduced in Parliament by Green Party MP Mojo Mathers that would amend the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill, currently under consultation, to include a prohibition on the use of animals in experiments relating to cosmetics.

“It is great to see politicians getting behind this important issue. Thousands of people have said they want a ban in law – and now it looks like they are being listened to. No one wants to see animals suffer for the sake of a new shampoo.” says SAFE head of campaigns Mandy Carter.

“New Zealand’s reputation is increasingly coming under scrutiny from overseas, we’ve seen it recently with our factory farming practices. A ban would ensure that animals do not have to suffer horrific deaths for the sake of cosmetic products. Animal testing involves some of the most horrific cruelty imaginable, and there really is no excuse.”

New Zealand is moving forward in a growing global trend towards cruelty-free products. Israel, India, the 28 member states of the European Union and most recently the Brazilian state of São Paulo, have already banned cosmetics animal testing. Legislative measures are under discussion in Australia, South Korea, the United States and beyond.

It is believed that no cosmetic testing currently takes place in New Zealand, but a ban would prevent cruel products from coming in from overseas. It would also ensure that as bans occur elsewhere in the world, animal testing companies do not move to New Zealand.

SAFE has campaigned on the issue of cosmetics testing for many years and is pleased to see that concerns are finally being considered. The public can urge party leaders to support the SOP by visiting animalwelfare.org.nz

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