Abstract
Cosmetics are used daily by millions of people, and include a vast range of products such as shampoo, makeup, moisturizer, perfume, etc. Approximately 38,000 animals are used every year across the EU to test new ingredients and products. And in the world, cosmetics companies kill millions of animals every year to test their products. These companies claim they test on animals to establish the safety of their products and ingredients for consumers. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require animal testing for cosmetics, and alternative testing methods are widely available and lead to more reliable results. Hundreds of companies – including Avon, The Body Shop and Mary Kay – already use humane non-animal testing methods to ensure the safety of their cosmetics.
When most people go to the store to purchase cosmetics and household cleaners they usually don't put too much thought into it. Most people do not realize that 14 million animals die and suffer each year for these products that are almost meaningless to humans.
Cosmetic animal testing is a very big problem that gets greatly overlooked. It is a problem that has lasted for centuries. As a matter of fact, according to the All for Animals Newsletter, animal testing on cosmetics goes way back to the seventeenth century when animals were believed to feel no pain.
