Animals have been victims of the beauty industry for many years as companies used them to test new products. Back in 2019, Mexican senator Ricardo Monreal Avila presented a bill in which animal testing for cosmetic products becomes illegal. The Mexican Senate approved the reform in a unanimous vote.
Animal rights groups applauded the decision
After the bill passed the Senate, animal advocacy groups such as Humane Society International Mexico congratulated Senator Monreal and all those who voted to put an end to animal testing, according to sources.
Senator Monreal tweeted the great news and called it a historic initiative. The purpose of the law is to protect animals from the cosmetic industry. Several big brands supported the bill, including giants such as Unilever, P&G, L’Oréal, Avon, and Lush.
El @senadomexicano aprobó, por unanimidad, la iniciativa #BellezaSinCrueldad, cuyo objetivo es prohibir el uso de animales en experimentos de la industria cosmética, y fomentar el desarrollo de mecanismos alternativos. @_AnimalHeroes_ @HSI_Mexico pic.twitter.com/UytwD6godR
— Ricardo Monreal A. (@RicardoMonrealA) September 3, 2021
41 other countries banned animal testing
Mexico is the first country in North America to prohibit animal testing for cosmetic products. In some countries, there are different bills in each state. In Brazil, ten states banned animal testing, and in the U.S, there are seven. Apart from the seven states, New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island states are also creating similar laws to protect animals. In total, 41 countries have implemented bills protecting animals against cosmetic testing.
Cosmetic ingredients tested on animals will be forbidden in Mexico
In Mexico, the General Health Law will ban the manufacturing and importing of cosmetic products tested on animals and cosmetic ingredients tested on animals. 103 Mexican senators voted for the bill, proving it is high time for the cosmetic industry to find other testing methods which do not involve using animals. Several global animal protection organizations are collaborating with small companies to help them implement alternative cruel-free testing methods.
There is still a long way to go until animal testing becomes prohibited at a global level.
