World Cosmetics Market Continues Move Toward Cruelty-Free Products

After the European Union banned animal testing for cosmetics in 2013, a number of countries have also outlawed the practice. Although some cosmetics companies still use animals to test the safety of their products before releasing to the market, consumers are increasingly voicing their opposition to the cruel practice, with 57 percent of adults surveyed by Nielsen saying they prefer products with packaging that indicates the manufacturer did not perform animal testing. There are alternatives to animal testing, including in vitro testing and the use of human skin equivalent systems. Manufacturers can also use established ingredients to ensure that their products are safe for humans. Obstacles to achieving “animal testing free” status include the animal testing law in China, one of the world’s largest cosmetics market, and government policies that neither ban nor encourage animal testing in Japan.