The United States has neither a ban on cosmetics animal testing nor any figures as to how widespread it is. It is a very lax and laissez-faire approach to what the vast majority of citizens in North America consider to be animal cruelty.

Do it on people. Go on!

There is a desire in some quarters of the country for America to lead the way on issues such as animal testing rather than lag well behind. America has been lumped together with China as two countries who have done nothing about cosmetics animal testing.

I have no expectations that China would have a ban in place but I would have expected more concern from Americans. Neither has Canada a ban in place, incidentally.

The lack of a ban does not mean that all cosmetics companies in the USA animal test. It is up to the individual company as to how they make sure that their products are safe, and I am sure some don’t animal test. I don’t think we know who they are. In fact, we know very little about animal testing for cosmetics in North America. It all seems to be swept under the carpet.

This sloppy approach to animal testing in America has now become an embarrassment for some, because, as reported, there is a Europe-wide ban on sales of cosmetics that have been animal tested and cosmetic testing on animals has been banned in Europe since 2009. Israel also ban the practice, by the way.

Let’s remind ourselves that we are referring to cosmetics not drugs, which may improve the lives of people with life threatening illness. It is clearly immoral to hurt animals so that people – presumably mainly women – can look better. When you think about it, it is absurd.

Actually it is not just women because the word “cosmetics” has a much wider usage than referring to makeup. In Europe it applies to:

• anti-wrinkle cream
• sunscreen
• deodorants
• shampoos
• hair sprays
• colorants
• shaving creams
• toothpaste and
• mouthwash

The word may have a different meaning in North America.

There are no standards for cosmetics animal testing under the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). There appears to be nothing by way of governmental regulation of any type, shape or form. It is all left to be decided by the cosmetics companies. We know what they’ll do. They’ll go on animal testing from here to eternity given the option.

What is galling is that animal testing is less accurate as a test procedure than using artificial skin. And why can’t cosmetics be tested on the skin of people. If people want to use cosmetics let them be the guinea pigs. That seems fair to me and it would be fair more accurate.

Conclusion

It is hard to conclude this short post with anything other than a plea to the American government to ban animal cosmetic testing nationwide, as soon as possible. Does a ban have to be introduced piecemeal, state by state over the next 50 years or something like that? I hope not.

I sense, however, that legislation that concerns the welfare of animals is not high on the agenda. The government desires economic growth and anything that might remotely hinder that is off the menu.

See custom search results for animal testing on PoC.