India Proposes Import Ban of Animal-Tested Cosmetics

Humane Society International applauds the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for introducing a draft notification to ban the import of cosmetics tested on animals abroad. If implemented, India will become South Asia’s first cruelty-free cosmetics zone.

The draft import ban rule marks another important milestone in HSI/India’s high profile Be Cruelty Free campaign, and follows its cosmetics animal testing ban victory last June . A legislative rule prohibiting animal testing for cosmetics throughout India completed its public consultation period in March and is expected to be implemented soon.

“We are delighted to see many months of HSI/India campaigning pay off with introduction of this import ban proposal, and we thank the Health Ministry for acting so swiftly on behalf of animals. With a ban on cosmetics animal testing already in place in India, it is now time to ensure that cosmetics tested with cruelty in other countries cannot be imported in India’s shops.”

Over the past few months, more than 30 members of India’s Parliament led by Smt. Maneka Gandhi, also Chairperson of People for Animals, legislative assemblies and legislative councils have written to the Health Ministry in support of HSI/India’s Be Cruelty-Free campaign urging this ban. In November, the Drug Technical Advisory Board also backed HSI/India’s call by recommending an import ban.

Be Cruelty-Free India is part of the largest campaign in the world to end cosmetics animal testing. Globally there are Be Cruelty-Free campaigns in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Russia, Taiwan and the U.S, where the campaign is led by The Humane Society of the United States.


Source:
- Humane Society International - India (6/5/2014 Press release)