Canada Joins Global #BeCrueltyFree Movement With Introduction of Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act

MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC--(Marketwired - Dec. 10, 2015) -

Editors' Note: There is a photo associated with this press release.

Today Canada took another progressive step toward ending the suffering of animals used in cosmetics testing with the introduction of the Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act. Senate bill S-214 would prohibit cosmetic animal testing in Canada as well as the sale of cosmetic products or ingredients that have been newly animal tested elsewhere in the world. The legislation was spearheaded by Senator Carolyn Stewart Olsen in consultation with Humane Society International/Canada and Animal Alliance of Canada as part of the largest campaign in history to end cosmetics animal testing and trade globally: #BeCrueltyFree.

Sen. Stewart Olsen stated: "I am so happy to see such an important bill so close to becoming legislation. It's inspiring, in that there's nothing partisan about trying to prevent needless animal suffering in the name of beauty. It's my hope that the Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act will transcend partisan politics and receive the support it deserves."

Troy Seidle, HSI's director of research and toxicology, said: "This is a landmark day for animals in Canada and for our global #BeCrueltyFree campaign thanks to Senator Stewart Olsen's leadership in championing this progressive legislation. We look forward to working with Senators and our newly elected Parliament to see Canada join other nations in taking a stand against cruel cosmetics by enacting the Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act."

Liz White, director of Animal Alliance of Canada, said: "Thanks to Senator Stewart Olsen, Canada is set to join the #BeCrueltyFree global movement that will bring an end to the cruel use of animals in cosmetic testing. We hope to work with Senator Stewart Olsen, the Senate and Parliament to make the legislation a reality."

FACTS:

• The Food and Drugs Act requires that all cosmetics sold in Canada be safe when used as intended, but does not specifically require animal testing to substantiate safety.
• The world's largest beauty products market, the European Union, together with Norway, Israel, India, New Zealand, Turkey and several states in Brazil, have enacted full or partial bans on animal testing for cosmetic products and ingredients. Similar legislation is currently pending in the United States, South Korea, Brazil, Taiwan, Australia, Argentina and elsewhere under the leadership of #BeCrueltyFree campaign teams in these countries.
• According to polling by the Strategic Counsel of behalf of Animal Alliance and HSI, 88 percent of Canadians agree that testing new cosmetics is not worth animal suffering, and 81 percent of Canadians support a national ban on animal testing of cosmetics and their ingredients.
• Nearly 90,000 Canadians have signed to #BeCrueltyFree petition to date.
• More than 500 cosmetic companies are certified "cruelty-free" in North America, avoiding animal testing by relying on thousands of existing ingredients already established as safe, combined with available state-of-the-art non-animal test methods.
• An ever-growing number of alternatives to animal testing have been developed with financial support from governments and industry, and accepted by regulatory authorities. Examples include human cell-based models for skin and eye irritation, skin allergy, skin absorption, genetic toxicity, and sunlight-induced "phototoxicity".

#BeCrueltyFree Canada is part of the largest global campaign in history to end cosmetics animal testing and trade - online at becrueltyfree.ca. The Canadian campaign is led by Humane Society International and Animal Alliance of Canada. Globally there are #BeCrueltyFree campaigns in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia, Taiwan, and the United States.

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