Following a meeting of the Bureau of Indian Standards’ PCD19 Cosmetic Sectional Committee this week, the DCGI issued a directive to eliminate the acute oral toxicity (lethal poisoning) and oral mucosal irritation animal testing for cosmetic purposes in India.
Wendy Higgins, communications director for Humane Society International, whose Indian group was invited to the committee meeting, told CometicsDesign-Asia.com that it moves the industry one step closer to ending the issue once and for all in India.
Big step
“[It is] a major success for our Be Cruelty-Free campaign to end animal testing for cosmetics in India,” she said. “HSI/India is leading lobbying efforts in India to see animal toxicity tests replaced with modern, non-animal research methods. “
HSI/India has applauded the efforts in India to deal with the issue; which has been heightened in recent times due to the upcoming ban in Europe, which has put pressure on other global markets.
“Humane Society International/India applauds the foresight and compassion of Drug Controller General Dr. G.N. Singh’s direction in this progressive move,” said HSI India Be Cruelty-Free Campaign Manager Alokparna Sengupta.
“It’s unthinkable that in this day and age, animals are still choking on cosmetic chemicals in decades-old poisoning tests while companies choke on their own inertia in switching to a cruelty-free business model.”
Alternatives needed
From now on, companies in India wishing to test cosmetic products or ingredients for these specific effects will have to submit a non-animal testing proposal to the DCGI for approval.
Eventually, it is expected that the Indian cosmetic standard IS4011 will be amended to reflect the changes as directed by DCGI.
HSI's Be Cruelty-Free campaign has worked with various Legislative Assemblies and associations around the world in a bid to end to cosmetics testing on animals.