It’s a small step for humans, but a giant leap for bunnies (and all animals)!
On September 2, 2021, the Mexican Senate voted unanimously to support a federal bill that will ban animal testing for cosmetics! The bill outlaws the testing of cosmetic ingredients and the final product on animals in the country- making Mexico the 41st nation to join the global roster for ethical beauty! In addition to no longer manufacturing animal-tested cosmetics, the country will prohibit the import and sale of cosmetic products wherein the final formulation and/or ingredients were tested on animals elsewhere in the world. Officials at The Secretariat of Health are also being tasked with facilitating the development of animal-free replacements for the tests.
Humane Society International’s stop-motion animated film Save Ralph is also being credited for garnering momentum and support for the legislation. In an enthusiastic statement, Antón Aguilar, executive director of Humane Society International Mexico says- “We thank the Mexican Government for showing leadership on this important issue, and we will continue to work with them to implement the commitments and enforce a robust ban. This is a monumental step forward for animals, consumers, and science in Mexico, and this ground-breaking legislation leads the way for the Americas to become the next cruelty-free beauty market, and brings us one bunny-leap closer to a global ban.”
While this momentous legislation has its merits, there are some exceptions to the ban for the following-
- When there are no replacement tests validated by the international scientific community for ingredients that may pose risks to human and environmental health.
- When the safety data for an ingredient has been generated through animal testing for a reason other than for cosmetic use. (No additional animal tests will be required for an ingredient widely used in the past.)
- When animal testing is a regulatory requirement to export to another country.
The law is said to be in full effect in two years- affording companies in Mexico time to shift their practices and phase out using animals. Hopefully, other nations that export their animal-tested products to Mexico will be inspired to follow suit and make similar commitments. According to Cruelty Free International, nearly half a million animals are used in cosmetic testing globally per year. However, with more regional and national policies being implemented to replace animal testing, we are optimistic that the practice will become one of the past!
