NZ: The game-changing statement

In a move sure to see animal welfare campaigners high-fiving, New Zealand Government Minister Nathan Guy has told Cruelty Free International that animal tests for cosmetics safety are unlikely to be approved by the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC). 

 

The Minister’s statement comes on the back of two-year discussions between the CFI and his department, the Ministry of Primary Industries. 

 

In a letter to the CFI, Guy wrote: “Given current societal attitudes to the use of animals in testing cosmetics, and the regulatory requirement for animal ethics committees (AEC) to apply a harm-benefit test, I believe that it is highly unlikely that any AEC now, or in the future, will approve a project to conduct cosmetics tests on animals.”

 

While MPs rejected a proposal to directly ban animal testing for cosmetics in June this year, this statement effectively closes off any testing in the country. 

 

Cruelty Free International CEO Michelle Thew comments: “This is an important step forward which we have been asking for from New Zealand and other countries. Although we would prefer a legislative ban on animal testing for cosmetics and their ingredients as in the European Union and India, we welcome this clear policy statement from New Zealand. The global snowball to end all animal testing for cosmetics is continuing to gather speed.”

 

The National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee’s annual report shows that there were just over 224,000 tests carried out in New Zealand in 2013. This is a drop of almost 26 per cent when compared to the previous year. 

 

The Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association says there is currently no animal testing being undertaken in New Zealand by any of the domestic or international cosmetic brands sold in the country. 

 

“The focus of many of our members is towards natural-based products and animal testing is not consistent with that move. Internationally, the industry has opposed animal testing with viable alternatives now used,” says CTFA executive director Garth Wyllie. 

 

Wyllie believes that changing the law in New Zealand is “unnecessary, since there is nothing to enforce, however, it may be a comfort to have it spelled out, as proposed recently through amendments to the Animal Welfare Act.”