Canada bans testing of cosmetic products on animals

June 28, 2023

- Companies will no longer be allowed to test on animals, sell cosmetics that rely on animal testing data

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - The Canadian government banned the testing of cosmetic products on animals, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said Tuesday.

"With the passing of Bill C-47, Budget Implementation Act, 2023, No. 1, the Food and Drugs Act (FDA) has been amended to ban cosmetic animal testing," he said in a statement. "The new legislative changes mean that in Canada, companies will no longer be allowed to test cosmetic products on animals or sell their cosmetics that rely on animal testing data to establish safety."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on Twitter that "testing cosmetic products on animals is cruel and unnecessary – and now, it is banned in Canada.

"Companies cannot test cosmetic products on animals anymore, nor can they sell cosmetics that rely on animal testing data to establish safety," he wrote.

The practice of testing cosmetics on animals was rarely conducted in Canada.

"By implementing these changes, Canada is aligning with the global shift toward ethical cosmetic testing by joining other countries, including all European Union countries, Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Korea, that have already taken measures to prohibit cosmetic animal testing," said the statement.