The suggested ban would take the form of an amendment to Taiwan’s Control for Cosmetics Hygiene Act, which currently dictates that products must go through an animal testing stage before retail.
A recent poll by the Taiwan SPCA indicated that consumers are keen for the ban to go forward, with 69.2% of those surveyed in favour of it, and 76.5% saying they don’t believe animals should suffer in the name of beauty.
A decision on the bill putting forward the ban is expected before the current parliament session is adjourned in June.
Global shift
Animal testing for cosmetics has seen an increasingly global backlash in recent years: if the bill is passed, Taiwan will join the European Union, Norway, Israel, India, South Korea and Turkey in removing or reducing the practice.
Other countries in which proposed bans are under consideration include the US, Canada, Brazil, Australia and Argentina.
Pressure groups have been pushing the issue with governments across the world, with the Humane Society International one of the lobbyists at the movement’s forefront, with their ‘#BeCrueltyFree’ campaign.
Taiwan SPCA and #BeCrueltyFree Taiwan campaign coordinator Joy Liou said: “We hope the legislature will act swiftly to pass this measure so Taiwan can take this major step and join the growing list of progressive nations to ban cruel animal testing of cosmetics and cosmetics ingredients.”
Alternatives for the industry
With the increasing worldwide momentum against animal testing for cosmetics, innovative new testing processes are required to offer appropriate alternatives to maintain safety and hygiene standards.
Unilever is one major player making moves to develop alternatives, last year entering a partnership with the US Environmental Protection Agency to share relevant research.
Cosmetics Europe, personal care trade association, is another key body looking into alternatives, and last year set up a Research Consortium to encourage industry collaboration on the issue.