Above video: Is there such a thing as "ethical hunting"?
The federal government has made good on a 2016 election promise to ban animal testing in cosmetics
From July 1st 2020, all cosmetics products produced in Australia will be cruelty-free.
Human/pet food
Mars have come under fire in the last couple years after it was revealed that it was using lab rats to test additives in their confectionary.
Mars committed to not using animal testing in “day-to-day productions” but still “sponsor a limited number of studies involving rats, mice, fish and other aquatic species.”
In Australia, Mars owns pet food brands Iams, Eukanuba, Whiskas, Pedigree, Royal Canin, Optimum, Advance and more.
Before you reach for a Kit-Kat or Mint Slice, parent company Nestle admits to using animal testing when trialing new products or ingredients.
In 2015, Cruelty Free International ran an exposé which found, among other things, Nestle researchers starved mice for 23 hours then force-fed them cinnamon to see if it could be used to treat obesity in humans.
Pet food didn’t fare any better when it was revealed that Nestle restricted the food of 18 overweight beagles in an intense six month diet to test out its Purina low calorie weight loss food.
Chemist aisle products
Church & Dwight’s Australian arm has made no guarantee that their toothpaste brands Advance White, Arm & Hammer and Pearl Drops are free of animal testing. The same applies for their mouthwash brand Ultrafresh.
Despite introducing a “voluntary moratorium” on animal testing in their products, according to a statement on their website, Colgate-Palmolive cannot guarantee there have been no animals harmed while making your toothpaste.
Stationary
Post-It note manufacturer 3M admits to using animal testing in their products.
According to their website, when it comes to animal testing they are trying to “reduce, replace and refine."
Some of the ways they’re doing this include:
- Sourcing teeth from the meat industry to test new dentistry products.
- Using “in vitro models”, including cultured human skin and lung tissue, to test for chemical sensitivity.
- Using mice instead of guinea pigs.
Bic Australia appears on PETA’s ‘Do Test On Animals’ list but as ShopEthical observes, they have currently implemented a suspension on testing.
What’s the next step?
Under the new legislation, only chemicals used in cosmetics will be banned from being tested on animals - which has some academics calling for the laws to go further.
RSPCA, confirms that it is, “asking the government to develop a national strategy for alternatives and the establishment of a national centre to implement the three 'R's (the principles of refinement, reduction and replacement in animal-based research).”
Where to now?
Animal testing was banned in the European Union back in 2009 and extended the ban to imports in 2013.
India, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland imposed a similar ban on testing cosmetics on animals.
In 2018, California made it illegal to sell any cosmetics that test on animals.
As of 2019, no countries have imposed a blanket ban on all products tested on animals.
