Israel now officially bans the import, marketing and sale of any cosmetics, toiletries or detergents whose manufacturing process involves animal testing.
The Knesset originally passed the law in 2010. The new regulations took effect on January 1, 2013.
MK Eitan Cabel (Labor), who serves as head of the Knesset’s Animal Rights Lobby, promoted the legislation, which states that “Israel will no longer allow the import and marketing of cosmetics, toiletries or detergents that were tested on animals.
“Animal testing in the Cosmetics Industry inflicts horrific suffering on these animals. Each product requires between 2,000-3,000 tests, and animals die in agony.”
The law makes certain exceptions for items produced for medicinal products, which are not categorized as drugs; and follows the guidelines set by the European Union, which enacted a similar ban in 2004.
MK Cabel said that the law represents “A true revolution in animal welfare in Israel. We’ve come a long way in the last Knesset term and this law in the pinnacle of our efforts.
“I hope we’ll create a change in perception that will end animal testing altogether.”
The new law was enacted as an addition to a law enacted in 2007, which banned animal testing in the Israeli Cosmetics Industry altogether.
Source: YNET NEWS ISRAEL
{Matzav.com Israel}
How do they test cosmetics on animals? Do they put lipstick on a cow 2,000-3,000 times, until the cow dies in agony of shame? How can cosmetics be harmful if humans wear it? And if it is actually harmful, and should be tested, is it now going to be tested on humans, or not-tested at all thereby endangering human cosmetics wearers?