Mandy Carter: Ban animal testing of cosmetics and win kudos for NZ

Animals still suffer needlessly for the sake of new products.

Opinion

What is actually going on in those meetings at the Beehive? They constantly talk about the importance of our international reputation but have repeatedly failed to grasp a golden opportunity even when it's been presented to them on a silver platter.

Animal welfare has become an important issue for many countries we trade with. New Zealand can't afford to ignore increasingly high expectations of how we treat our animals and the laws we have to protect them.

There is one crucial area where New Zealand can easily improve its standing, and that is animal testing for cosmetics.

The Ministry for Primary Industries says there is no cosmetics testing on animals here, but our animal welfare legislation does not ban it either.

Around the world thousands of animals suffer needlessly in the testing of products such as shampoo and lip gloss.

In October, the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee released its annual report which showed in 2013, 224,048 animals were used in testing in New Zealand, down 25.9 per cent from the previous year.

While this can be seen as an achievement, it is inconsistent that we're working to lower some tests, but testing of cosmetics on animals, regarded as one of the most disgusting, archaic cruelties, is not illegal.

The Government could easily introduce a law now and receive massive international kudos.

Few people want to see animals suffering for the sake of cosmetics. A poll commissioned by SAFE revealed that more than 88 per cent of New Zealanders want a ban on cosmetics testing on animals. Even The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, which represents 112 members, has stated their support for a ban.

Bans on cosmetics testing are already in place in the European Union, India, Israel, Norway and the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo. Legislative measures are also under discussion in Australia, Brazil, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States.

With a simple amendment of the Animal Welfare Act, New Zealand has the opportunity to do the same.

Mandy Carter is head of campaigns at SAFE.