Editor     2014年1月26日 22:02

By Adam Jourdan and Clare Baldwin

2013-11-14 09:27:42 (Beijing Time)

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.

“Under the proposal, non-specialized cosmetics produced in China could avoid toxicological testing when going through risk and safety checks. This would include animal testing,” the CFDA said yesterday in comments clarifying a statement published on its website last week when it sought public opinion on the proposed changes.

Imported cosmetics of all types and "specialized cosmetics" made in China will not be covered by the proposed change, the CDFA said. Specialized cosmetics include sun cream, deodorants, skin bleaching products, hair dyes and hair growth and hair removal products, according to Chinese regulations.

“The Body Shop welcomes the signals that the Chinese authorities are adopting a new approach to cosmetic testing,” spokeswoman Louise Terry said.

“We have campaigned against animal testing for over 20 years and we look forward to selling our products on China’s mainland one day.”

Animal testing is legal in more than 80 percent of the world, including the United States. But China is the only country that requires cosmetic products to be tested on animals, according to animal protection organization Cruelty Free International.

Regulations require all cosmetics to go through a lengthy approval process that includes animal testing, reducing the variety of products available for sale.

Animal rights groups welcomed the proposed changes, but said that this would not mark the end of animal testing in China as ingredients used for cosmetics may still have to go through an approval process involving animal tests.

“The fact they are looking at these changes and have made this proposal is really to be welcomed. It’s a significant development,” said Emily McIvor, senior policy adviser to Humane Society International.

The group is meeting the CFDA this week to urge China to also include imported and specialized cosmetics.

Europe banned the sale of new cosmetics tested on animals in March and has been calling for countries such as the US and China to follow suit.

From: REUTERS, November 13, 2013