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In a move that mirrors the European Union ban on selling cosmetics which have been animal tested after 2013, Switzerland has also banned the sales of cosmetics that have been tested on animals.
Last month, Switzerland enacted a law that effectively bans the sale of all cosmetics tested on animals in the country. The Swiss Federal Council proposed the ban in March 2016, which came into effect at the end of December, and the enactment of this regulatory measure removes all products tested on animals abroad from Swiss cosmetics retailers. The country’s new law brings it closer to the existing EU ban which already has a big impact on the Swiss cosmetics market.
“We are delighted that Switzerland will no longer allow cosmetics for which animals have suffered to be sold in the country,” Cruelty Free International CEO Michelle Thew said.
“This move is the next step in our 20-year campaign to end cruel animal testing everywhere and forever.” Thew urged other governing bodies to take action, stating, “It is time now for every government to step up and do the right thing.”
Times are changing, and the end of cosmetic testing is in sight as the Dutch government have announced it would phase out all chemical testing on animals by 2025 in its efforts to be a world leader in scientific innovation.
More than 30 countries across the world have now banned animal testing for cosmetics, including Switzerland, the 28 European Union countries, India, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan.
Sources: Cruelty Free International, VegNews.
