Cosmetic Animal Testing: The Future of Cruelty-Free Beauty in Florida.

• Author: Sherman, Savannah

Animal testing is an issue that has been at the center of debate in the scientific and legal communities for decades as cosmetics, household cleaning products, medicines, food additives, and agricultural products are all subject to animal testing. (1) Mice, rats, dogs, guinea pigs, cats, chimpanzees, and rabbits are among the species commonly used to test products via painful and inefficient experimentation. Animals are exposed to harsh chemicals and then observed to monitor the long-term effects of their injuries without traditional anesthetic or pain treatment, and such testing is not required to establish the safety of cosmetic products. In fact, testing can be performed with more precision and accuracy by using alternative methods, such as cell cultures, donated human tissues and organs, computer modeling, and human volunteers. (2)

With more and more cosmetic companies donning a "cruelty-free" badge on the front of their packaging, the market has pushed for more ethical consumption. This push signals that cosmetic testing is facing increasing levels of public scrutiny. However, some companies hide behind a pseudo cruelty-free label by outsourcing testing to independent laboratories or having tests performed overseas. (3) Major animal welfare organizations, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and Leaping Bunny, have cruelty-free certification programs that allow companies to use a signature cruelty-free label as long as they meet the minimum standards set forth by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics. (4)

Background

Consumers don't always associate their favorite shampoo, face cream, mascara, or cleaning products with animal cruelty. Unfortunately, the link between beauty products and animal suffering continues to exist today despite anti-animal testing movements. Cosmetic animal testing in the United States first began on a large scale in 1938 with the passage of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. (5) Animal subjects were used to test the safety of chemicals added to cosmetics through a series of painful experiments that still take place today. (6) In 2019 alone, 797,546 animals were experimented on in the U.S., 5,564 of which were in Florida. (7) Cosmetic trials involve many horrendous tests including rabbits being shaved, held down, and having chemicals rubbed into their skin and dropped into their eyes. All of which is done without anesthesia or pain relief. (8) Cosmetics are also tested for their lethal dose by force-feeding ingredients to rats and measuring the dosage at which death occurs. (9) In these trials, chemicals in cosmetics are fed to mice over several weeks or months to test for adverse reactions and illnesses. (10) Such tests lead to unnecessary animal suffering that can be prevented by using other methods of research.

Alternatives to animal testing have proven to be effective for evaluating the safety of cosmetics. Alternative testing can more closely mimic how the human body may respond to a given chemical more accurately than animal experiments and is often less expensive and more efficient than using animals. (11)

Despite the availability of alternative testing methods, many cosmetic companies continue to use animal testing. One reason is the requirement set by China for selling imported cosmetics. The Chinese government requires all special-use cosmetics to be tested on animals before sale. Additionally, as of May 2021, all products must be tested unless the cosmetic company applies for a special exemption. (12) Prior to this date, China required all imported cosmetics, regardless of use, to be tested on animals before being sold in the country. The new legislation allows for nonspecial-use products to be exempt from testing so long as the cosmetic company successfully applies for the exemption. (13) Specialuse products include sunscreens, hair dyes, whitening products, hair loss products, and all products containing new ingredients. (14) This relaxation of animal testing laws signals a step in the right direction; however, millions of animals still suffer for the sake of selling beauty products overseas. Many companies, such as Maybelline, Makeup Forever, NARS, Clinique, and Neutrogena, do not conduct animal testing in the U.S., but do conduct animal testing in China to be able to sell in the Chinese market. (15) These companies often claim to not test on animals unless required to by law; however, that is misleading. Cruelty-free brands, such as Tarte, NYX, and most recently, Covergirl, elect not to sell in China to avoid participating in animal testing. No company is required to test on animals unless that company chooses to sell in China, therefore, it is entirely up to a cosmetic company whether they choose to participate in animal cruelty.

Scientific Perspective

Animal testing is inaccurate, costly, and less reliable than alternative testing methods. In animal experiments for human medications, 92% of drugs that are initially deemed safe in animal trials are later deemed ineffective or unsafe for human use. (16) If that isn't enough to disprove the need for animal testing, the fact that we have cured cancer in mice for decades, but have yet to cure cancer in humans, is enough to show the disparity in between species biology. (17) For cosmetics, a common series of testing is performed to evaluate skin irritation and corrosion, eye irritation and corrosion, skin sensitization, and oral, topical, and inhalation toxicity. (18)

Animal test subjects...