Victory! Colombia Joins 40 Countries Worldwide Banning The Use Of Animals In Cosmetics Testing Beginning In 2024

Earlier this week, President Iván Duque Márquez of Colombia signed an important bill into law ending the use of animals in cosmetics testing throughout the country.

As a result, beginning in 2024, the legislation will prohibit the use of animals for testing cosmetics products and their ingredients, regardless if they were imported or manufactured in Colombia. With many multinational companies based in Colombia and serving the Latin American market, the measure will also impact Chile, Mexico, and Peru.

“This humane and historic new law will spare the suffering of countless animals in needless cosmetics tests,” Jan Creamer, President of Animal Defenders International (ADI) noted in a statement sent to WAN.

ADI Colombia provided research and testimony in support of the bill that was introduced in 2018, and worked with the author of the bill, Congress member Juan Carlos Losada, to advance the legislation. The bill is also supported by the Government of Colombia, National Association of Businessmen, and all 14 political parties.

“With the approval of this law, Colombia advanced as a country towards community development free of animal exploitation. This decision was made in one of the most crucial moments for humanity and in which the planet is giving us an opportunity to change and to respect any kind of life. It is time to discard any product manufactured at the cost of animal suffering, to advance the protocols and the ways we investigate, and to be on par with world leaders in scientific innovation,” stated Senate co-author Richard Aguilar. “Personally, I am very pleased to have championed this initiative and that the Congress of the Republic has made progress in creating public policies that demand new citizenships, and in this case, laws in favor of animal rights.”

Nearly 40 countries have ended the use of animals in cosmetics tests, including the UK, which is the first country to introduce a ban in 1998, as well as India, Israel, New Zealand, and the 27 countries of the European Union. In the United States, The Humane Cosmetics Act is before Congress and seeks to phase out animal testing for cosmetics, as well as the sale of animal-tested products.

“Seven years ago, we achieved the ban on the use of wild animals in circuses, which was a great challenge because animal protection was not part of the agenda in the Colombian Congress. Now, we have achieved another historic advancement, the use of animals in laboratories has never been discussed in Congress and the Government is finally beginning to pay attention to this important issue,” shared ADI Colombia Campaigns Manager, Yani Mateus. “We hope that Colombia and Latin America continue to advance in favor of respect for all forms of life.”

Cosmetics tests on animals include repeated, toxic doses of products to observe long-term poisonous effects. The animals may be forced to inhale products, or have them pumped down their throats, or applied to their skin. Skin sensitization tests involve painful damage to the animals’ skin in order to test products.

ADI investigations have exposed extreme suffering in cosmetics testing, including rabbits restrained in stocks while products are dripped into their eyes, and guinea pigs suffering raw and inflamed skin lesions.

Such tests are unnecessary and unreliable. Advanced scientific methods are now available, which avoid the problem of differences between species in their reaction to substances, producing misleading results. Advanced technology produces results relevant to humans.

You can help all animals and our planet by choosing compassion on your plate and in your glass. #GoVeg