The Future is Cruelty-Free
More than 40 countries worldwide have banned testing cosmetics on animals, and more and more companies are also becoming cruelty-free.
This is no accident.
This is a direct result of people's power around the world voting with their wallets and proving that there is a demand for cruelty-free products.
Every dollar spent on a cruelty-free product takes money away from a company that harms animals and rewards those companies that don’t.
Keep up Aotearoa!
In 2015 we banned animal testing for finished cosmetic products and ingredients in NZ.
However, imported cosmetics can still be tested on animals. It's estimated that up to 80% of cosmetics sold in NZ are imported.1 We must ban the import and sale of animal-tested cosmetics and ingredients to end this cruelty!
We must stop this double standard and save animals.
We must close this cruel loophole. No Compromise. No Cruelty!
Cruelty-Free – Cosmetic Import and Sale bans
As more regions enforce this ban across the globe, markets for animal-tested cosmetics diminish, making their production economically unviable.
Legislative Bans in place for Import and Sale of animal-tested cosmetics:
- The EU (27 countries) banned the testing of finished cosmetic products on animals in 2004, and in 2009, the testing of ingredients for cosmetics,2 followed in March 2013 by the ban on the sale of cosmetics that had been tested on animals.3
- Israel banned cosmetics testing on animals in 1994, with some exceptions.4 The ban on importing, selling, and marketing cosmetics tested on animals came into force gradually.5
- Norway banned animal testing for cosmetics and the sale of such products was banned in 2006, effective from 2009.6
- India banned animal testing for cosmetics in 2013 and the import of such products in 2014.7
- South Korea introduced a ban on animal testing for cosmetics and the sale of animal-tested cosmetics that came into force in 2018.8
- Mexico prohibited the testing of cosmetic products or their ingredients on animals, as well as the import of such products (with exceptions) in 2022.9
- Several U.S. States have bans in place for import and sales, including New Jersey10 and California11, even though they need to exclude circumstances where the overarching federal law requires animal testing. Most recently, Oregon joined in, banning the sale of cosmetics that were developed using animal testing from January 2024. 12
- Colombia signed a law in 2020, prohibiting the import, export, manufacture, and marketing of cosmetics tested on animals in Colombia, which came into force in 2024.13
- Türkiye prohibits the use of animal testing for cosmetics if there are alternatives available and there are no specific problems that need to be addressed in a detailed research protocol. The law prohibits “placing on the market” of animal-tested cosmetics or cosmetics containing animal-tested compounds.14
- Canada implemented a ban on testing cosmetics on animals and importing such products in December 2023.15
- Chile implemented a ban at the end of (December) 2023 on cosmetic animal testing as well as the manufacturing, import and marketing of cosmetics tested on animals. 16
Right now, more countries are looking at import and sale bans of animal-tested cosmetics and ingredients. Together, we can ensure Aotearoa, New Zealand, joins this movement and implements such a ban!