84.78% in Support of Canada Banning Animal Testing for Cosmetic Products

Canada has taken a significant step forward in supporting animal welfare by banning the cruel and unnecessary testing of cosmetic products on animals. The Government of Canada, under the leadership of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, passed Bill C-47, amending the Food and Drugs Act (FDA) to prohibit cosmetic animal testing. With this new legislation, companies in Canada will no longer be allowed to test cosmetic products on animals or use animal testing data to establish the safety of their cosmetics.

Canada’s animal testing ban aligns Canada with the global shift towards ethical cosmetic testing, joining other countries like the European Union, Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Korea, which have already banned cosmetic animal testing.

By taking this crucial step, Canada demonstrates its commitment to animal welfare and joins the growing international efforts to end the practice of testing cosmetics on animals. The government’s dedication to exploring safe and cruelty-free alternatives will contribute to a more compassionate and sustainable society for cosmetic product testing.

According to Real Research, an online survey app, the survey on Canada banning animal testing yielded valuable insights into the public’s response to Canada banning cosmetics testing on animals.

Highlights:

• 54.17% strongly agreed with Canada banning animal testing.
• Nearly 52% suggested in-vitro testing as an alternative to animal testing.
• The majority (74.03%) said Canada banning animal testing should extend to other consumer products.

Canada’s decision to ban animal testing for cosmetic products has received strong support from the public, with 37% of respondents strongly agreeing and 47.78% somewhat agreeing with the ban. While 12.42% somewhat disagreed and 2.8% strongly disagreed, this overwhelming approval indicates widespread recognition of the importance of protecting animal welfare and aligning with global efforts to promote ethical cosmetic testing.

With the passing of Bill C-47, Canada not only prohibits the cruel and unnecessary testing of cosmetic products on animals but also bans the sale of products that rely on animal testing. This comprehensive approach to eliminating animal testing in the cosmetics industry is widely endorsed, as demonstrated by 54.18% of respondents strongly agreeing and 36.34% somewhat agreeing with the ban on the sale of such products.

However, it’s worth noting that a small minority of respondents (7.42%) expressed some disagreement with this comprehensive approach, while an even smaller portion of the sample (2.06%) strongly disagreed.

Also Read: Revision of the Animal Protection Act May Allow Excessive Animal Testing To Be Regulated

Growing Public Support for In-Vitro Testing: A Step Towards Ethical Cosmetic Testing in Canada

The survey data further reveals that 51.88% of respondents believe in-vitro testing to be the most effective alternative to animal testing. Followed by artificial human skin (18.27%), computer modeling and in silico modeling (8.12%), human volunteering (6.64%), and use of existing safety data (5.9%).

While the ban demonstrates Canada’s dedication to animal welfare, concerns about potential cost implications for cosmetic brands have been raised. However, opinions on this matter are divided, with 37.61% of respondents considering it highly likely and 38.96% somewhat likely that cosmetic brands may experience an increase in costs due to the ban.

On the other hand, 12.25% considered it somewhat unlikely, and 3.88% considered it highly unlikely.

Public Demands for Ethical Testing Practices Beyond Cosmetics in Canada

Beyond cosmetics, the survey data indicates strong support (74.03%) for extending the ban on animal testing to other consumer products. Respondents suggested that cleaning products (10.51%), pharmaceuticals (15.4%), pesticides (15.07%), food additives (14.2%), and consumer textiles (11.52%) should also be subject to similar regulations.

Lastly, the survey highlights consumers’ growing concern for cruelty-free cosmetics, with 34.76% considering it very important and 36.38% considering it somewhat important to purchase such products. Whereas 15.47% stated that it was not important, and it was not at all important for 4.48% of respondents.

Despite the majority deeming it important, this sentiment reflects a shift in consumer preferences toward supporting brands that prioritize animal welfare and ethical testing practices.