Australia bans using animal testing data for cosmetics

New cosmetic ingredients and products manufactured in, or imported into Australia will not be able to use information from animal testing to prove safety. With the ban applicable from July 2020, Australia joins EU and many other countries including India which have already imposed the ban. An Advisory Group comprising of representatives from the cosmetics industry, animal welfare organisations, researchers and Government is considering aspects related to the ban’s first 12 months of operation. According to authorities, cosmetics already existing on the market will not affected by the ban. For new cosmetic ingredients , the legislation allows for a range of alternate data sources to be provided instead of animal test data. This can include recognised international alternatives to animal tests, for example, tests validated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), computer- based modelling and information from existing animal test data of a similar chemical.

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