Animal tests for cosmetics targeted
Print Edition
UNTIL this month, about 100,000 animals suffered in cosmetics testing in China every year.
But the situation has now improved. Since July 1, animal toxicological testing for non-specialized cosmetics produced and sold in China will no longer be required if a risk assessment has been carried out. It is believed that a significant number of animals suffering in tests will be phased out. This is a result of China responding to the global shift as more and more countries end such testing.
On December 16, 2013, the “Notification Regarding Adjustments to Cosmetics Registration and Management” was posted on the website of the China Food and Drug Administration, stipulating that non-specialized cosmetics produced in China that are able to evidence product safety by using existing data or European Union-validated non-animal tests will be exempt from animal toxicological experiment from July 1, 2014.
Previously, CFDA had required all cosmetics to undergo an approval process, including “toxicological testing,” which typically involved testing on animals. Now, if those cosmetics did all requirements in accordance with the risk assessment guideline published by CFDA, including assessments on raw materials, product formulation, manufacturing technology and so on, animal toxicological testing can be removed.
“We are trying to act on international convention,” said the executive director of the Drug & Cosmetics Registration Division, surnamed Zhang, of Shanghai Food and Drug Administration. “If the risk assessment can ensure consumer safety, then such non-specialized cosmetics manufacturer don’t have to submit the materials of animal toxicological testing. However, if after conducting a risk assessment, the manufacturer determines that the product poses a potential risk, further information is needed to be provided through the animal toxicological testing.”
“We prefer to look at the big picture and make sure the cosmetics produced are safe for us to use,” another representative of Shanghai Food and Drug Administration said.
“There are about 240 cosmetic companies registered in Shanghai and as far as I know, they all responded actively to this new notification and some of them have already introduced the risk assessment system.”
It is an important first step for China in moving away from animal testing for cosmetics.
“Achieving a complete end to these tests must remain the end-goal because it’s important for animal welfare, but also important for science and consumer safety, too,” said Wendy Higgins of the Humane Society International UK, “In Europe for example, making regulatory decisions based on existing data combined with the latest OECD-approved in vitro tests is standard practice. But for Chinese companies it’s a new territory so there will be a steep learning curve.”
HSI, together with the Institute for In Vitro Sciences, has already conducted a program of hands-on training for Chinese scientists in how to use and interpret data from some of the in vitro tests, and this was enthusiastically received.
“We understand that we’re not going to achieve that change overnight in China,” said Higgins. “But now that we have this first new notification in place, we firmly believe that more change will come.”
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