What is China’s animal testing policy?
As we’ve said before, policies relating to animal testing and determining whether or not a brand or company is cruelty free can be very complicated and confusing. It’s also something that keeps changing, which in most instances is good news!
The situation regarding animal testing in mainland China used to be very simple. If a brand sold any of its products in China, they would lose their cruelty free status. This was because it was a legal requirement that those products were tested on animals by the Chinese authorities.
Now, it’s more complicated and there are some exceptions to their animal testing law.
Can you be cruelty free and sell products in China?
The changes to animal testing laws in China mean that some brands are able to sell their cosmetic products there and maintain their cruelty free status. It’s not a loophole, the products do remain cruelty free. However, it only applies to cosmetics at the moment, not household or other products. Here’s an overview…
General and special/special-use cosmetics
Firstly, we need to understand the difference between general and special/special-use cosmetics. Special-use cosmetics are functional i.e. hair dyes, whitening products and sunscreen. General cosmetics (sometimes called ‘ordinary’ cosmetics) are largely everything else i.e. makeup, perfumes and nail varnish.
It’s these ‘general’ cosmetics that may be exempt from animal testing. However, avoiding this requirement is an extensive and complicated process and it’s therefore not very common. Special-use cosmetics are not exempt from animal testing, neither are products designed for infants, children, or pregnant and/or breastfeeding parents. So, special-use cosmetics and products for babies, children and expectant or breasting parents, must be tested on animals.
Some exceptions
There are some exceptions:
- Products that are made and manufactured in China do not need to be tested on animals, it applies only to products that are imported.
- Cosmetics that are sold online and shipped directly to customers in China do not need to be tested on animals. It is only products that are sold in shops and stores that must be tested on animals.
Occasionally, products may be tested on animals after they have been sold or marketed in China, even if this was not a requirement beforehand. If informed, companies should have the right to withdraw their products from the market in China.
Cruelty free brands could sell general cosmetics in mainland China if they are exempt from animal-testing but could not sell special-use cosmetics. In doing so, they would lose their cruelty free status.
Ethical Elephant have produced a great infographic that helps outline the changes to China’s animal testing laws.
How can you be sure products are cruelty free?
In response to the to China’s animal testing laws, Cruelty Free International’s Leaping Bunny Program has launched its ‘China Qualification Program’ which supervises brands through the process of selling cosmetic products in China whilst remaining cruelty free.
If you want to be absolutely certain that products are cruelty free, look for the Leaping Bunny or PETA logo. Find out more about cruelty free logos and the difference between certifications: How do you know if a product is tested on animals?
Everything at Animal-Kind is both vegan and cruelty free. You can shop for a wide range of products, from household cleaners and laundry detergents to toiletries, toothpastes and moisturisers – all vegan, all cruelty free.
