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Cosmetics giant, Avon, is calling for a global animal testing ban, despite selling its products in China – where all imported cosmetics are required to undergo animal tests conducted by the Chinese government.
Similarly, ‘special use’ items including deodorants and sunscreens, that are sold in China, also have to be tested on animals by law.
‘Unnecessary and unacceptable practice’
However, Avon has joined the Humane Society International’s #BeCrueltyFree campaign to prohibit cosmetics testing on animals in all major global beauty markets by 2023.
Louise Scott, Chief Scientific Officer at Avon, said: “Avon’s been working to end animal testing for 30 years, but as an industry, there is still more to do. I’m proud of our contribution to driving change to date. But we’re even stronger if we work with others. It’s crucial that we open up more partnerships with other change-agents to end the unnecessary and unacceptable practice of animal testing for cosmetics.”
‘Paying for tests on animals’
In 2012, animal-rights organization PETA said Avon had ‘quietly changed its policies and were paying for tests on animals in order to sell [its] products in China’ – and urged the company to ‘pull out of or refuse even to enter the Chinese market while animals are still dying’.
PETA commented: “While we understand that China is an enormous market that these companies aren’t willing to ignore, we had hoped they would take action to eliminate this requirement or push for non-animal testing methods to be accepted.”
When asked why Avon doesn’t stop selling in China, the company responded: “We are optimistic that Avon’s influence as a leading global cosmetics company can help advance the Chinese government’s acceptance of non-animal testing methods with the goal of ending animal testing.
“We work in partnership with organizations that are developing new approaches to product safety evaluation that don’t use animals, as well as with personal care products industry associations.”
