China may change rules on animal tests for cosmetics

China is considering changing the rules to allow the sale of some cosmetics without requiring them to be tested on animals, opening up the mainland market to international firms opposed to the practice. Under the potential changes, “non-specialized cosmetics” manufactured in China — such as shampoos, soaps, nail products and some skin products — could be sold from June next year without undergoing animal testing, according to the China Food and Drug Administration. This may enable firms which do not allow the practice, such as British cosmetics retailer The Body Shop, owned by L’Oreal, to enter the country’s 134 billion yuan (US$22 billion) cosmetics market. The Body Shop welcomes the signals that the Chinese authorities are adopting a new approach to cosmetic testing. (China, 2013)

Reference:

China.org.cn (2013) ‘China may change rules on animal tests for cosmetics’, 14 November, Available at: http://www.china.org.cn/china/2013-11/14/content_30597257.htm (Accessed: 1 February, 2014)