The IBHA is small but counts some of the biggest multinational cosmetics and personal care players amongst its members, including Procter & Gamble, Hindustan Unilever and L’Oréal.
PETA claims that following on from the recent ban on testing cosmetics on animals and the proposed ban on animal-tested imported cosmetics, the IBHA has been lobbying to weaken or even reverse the new legislation.
Lobbying could stall efforts to implement cruelty-free
The animal-rights organisation says that the lobbying could serve to stall the significant progress that has been made in the past year towards an outright ban of animal testing on cosmetics, ultimately meaning Indian customers could unwittingly be buying animal tested products.
Those animal tests include ocular, abraded skin and forced oral procedures because a total ban on the testing of finished cosmetics products sold in India is yet to be implemented.
As well as the three biggest personal care players in the world, the IBHA membership also includes big European names such as Nivea, Chanel, Oriflame, PZ Cussons and Pierre Fabre, all of which are European-based companies.
European companies may have more to lose
PETA points out that the European origins of these IBHA members is particularly ironic due to the fact that animal testing on cosmetics ingredients and finished products is now completely outlawed in the European Union.
India became the first country in South Asia to implement a ban on animal testing after the Bureau of Indian Standards approved the removal of any mention of animal tests from the country’s cosmetics standards at the end of June, this year.
The ban was secured in India following ongoing campaigning and lobbying by Indian Members of Parliament and State Assemblies and the Humane International Society.
However, if PETA’s claim is correct, progress towards implementing the ban is being hampered, which could pose problems for any European company wishing to avoid tarnishing itself with accusations associating it with animal testing.