Not sure if a cosmetic product or brand is truly cruelty-free? Whether you’re shopping online or in-store, there are several ways to tell if your cosmetics are cruelty-free and not tested on animals.

In this post, I share five methods you can use to identify which companies are cruelty-free. I’ll also be sharing when it’s best to use each method and some of the limitations and drawbacks of each.

Let’s first define what is cruelty-free.

What is Cruelty-Free?

‘Cruelty-free‘ is generally used to describe cosmetics that are free from animal testing. However, the term ‘cruelty-free’ is unregulated, and there is no official or legal definition. So ‘Cruelty-Free’ can mean different things to different people.

See here a list of our standards of what we consider ‘Cruelty-Free.’

How To Know if it’s Cruelty-Free?

Some may prefer to use one or a combination of the following methods to determine whether a product or brand is truly cruelty-free. Whichever or how many methods you choose to use is up to you. I’ll also be listing some limitations with each one as there isn’t a perfect or ideal method.

1. Spot the Certified Cruelty-Free Bunny Logo

The fastest and easiest way to know whether a product is cruelty-free is by looking for a certified cruelty-free bunny logo on product packaging.

You can find it on the store display, the company’s website, or on the packaging somewhere. Just make sure you’re looking for Leaping Bunny or PETA’s bunny logos, and know that not all bunny logos are created equal.

Use this method when:

• You have the product in front of you
• You’re browsing the company’s official website
• You want a quick and easy reference
• You trust the third-party certification and its cruelty-free standards

Limitations of this method:

Companies must pay to use and license a certified bunny logo. That means a company can be certified cruelty-free and meet all the criteria, but they might not be able to afford the licensing fee to use the logo. For example, PETA’s licensing fee costs $350. Leaping Bunny’s licensing fee is based on the company’s gross annual sales.

Also, due to limited space on the packaging, some companies may decide not to advertise and use the certified bunny logo.

Another thing to keep in mind, since the EU has a marketing and sale ban on animal-tested cosmetics and ingredients, they have restrictions on allowing cosmetics to be marketed as “Cruelty-Free.” So some EU-based brands will not display the cruelty-free logo on their packaging.

Lastly, the organizations that issue and regulate these certified bunny logos all have different cruelty-free standards. None are the same, so it’s important you research and find which ones meet your standards.

2. Look it Up – Online Certified Cruelty-Free Database

Shopping online or don’t have the product in front of you? Then you can also reference an online cruelty-free database. Unlike the first method, a company doesn’t have to pay to be listed.

Brands will still need to meet all of the cruelty-free criteria in order to be approved and listed. But using this method will ensure you aren’t missing out on any brands who may not have been able to afford to license and use the bunny logo on their packaging.

Certified Cruelty-Free Brand Lists:

• Leaping Bunny
• Cruelty-Free International (same as Leaping Bunny but this list includes companies with headquarters outside US and Canada)
• PETA’S Beauty Without Bunnies

Use this method when:

• You trust the third-party certification and its cruelty-free standards
• You may or may not have the product in front of you. The list is organized alphabetically by brand name, so you just need to know the company name.
• If you want a portable version of the list, you can print it out.

Limitations of this method:

Cruelty-free certifications have different standards from each other, so it’s important you find an organization that you’re aligned with. You’ll often find that each cruelty-free list will have different brands from one another.

3. Download a Cruelty-Free App

Some of us aren’t down for printing a list and bringing it to the store, so thankfully, there’s an app for that! Download a cruelty-free mobile app where you can quickly scan a product’s barcode and instantly know whether it’s tested on animals or not.

Cruelty-Free Mobile Apps to Download:

• Cruelty-Free Shopping Guide by Leaping Bunny
• Bunny Free App (PETA)
• Cruelty Cutter App (Beagle Freedom Project)

Use this method when:

• You have the product in front of you to scan
• Need a quick, on-the-go reference while you’re at the store
• Short on time
• You trust the third-party certification and its cruelty-free standards

Limitations of this method:

Your trust is in a third party’s cruelty-free standards and how frequently the app is updated. A product or brand may also scan and show different results from app to app.

4. Email the Company & Ask

This method is the most time-consuming, but you’re in total control. Composing your own specific questions will ensure all of your cruelty-free questions and concerns are properly addressed.

Use this method when:

• You don’t trust other third-party certifications or their standards
• There is no available information online or on the packaging
• Or if there is information available, it is outdated, incomplete, or not credible
• You have the time

Get an Insider look at what we ask brands when verifying their cruelty-free commitments and animal testing policy with our email templates. (Only available to Ko-Fi members)

Limitations of this method:

It can be incredibly time-consuming; expect a week to a month before getting a response, and sometimes will require multiple follow-up emails.

5. Consult a Cruelty-Free Blogger

Cruelty-free bloggers are incredibly helpful as they’re considered experts in decoding cruelty-free claims. They’ve also already emailed companies and have their own curated cruelty-free lists based on the responses they received from companies.

I’m totally biased here because I’m a cruelty-free blogger myself. But I like to think we offer a more personal experience where you’re able to email or message us asking our opinion on a company’s cruelty-free status and claims.

Use this method when:

• You trust a cruelty-free blogger and their standards of what they consider ‘cruelty-free.’
• You want an outsider’s opinion other than the brand that is trying to sell you their products.

Limitations of this method:

There may be conflicting opinions among cruelty-free bloggers where one may consider a brand to be cruelty-free, and another has them on their blacklist. Also, be aware that just about anyone can start a blog nowadays. Some do it to help others. While others create blogs strictly to make money. (Hint: if you see a lot of Amazon links or an excessive number of ads on their site, they’re most likely not doing it for the animals.) So just be aware of which bloggers to trust and where they are getting their information from.

A few of my favorite cruelty-free bloggers that I would recommend are Cruelty-Free Kitty, Logical Harmony, and My Beauty Bunny.

Final Words

As you can tell, there are several ways to know if a cosmetic product or brand is truly cruelty-free. With so many options, it makes going and being cruelty-free easier than ever! Just know there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to be cruelty-free. Just try your best and make better choices every day.

More Resources:

• Know The Diff: Cruelty-Free vs. Vegan
• Who To Trust? PETA or Leaping Bunny
• Beginner’s Guide: Vegan Beauty Basics
• To Know: Understanding China’s Animal Testing Laws
•  Heated Topic: Parent Company Animal Testing

The post 5 Ways To Know If Your Cosmetics Are Cruelty-Free – And Which Way Is The Best? appeared first on ethical elephant.

Use this Cruelty-Free Checklist to help you identify whether a brand engages in animal testing at any stage of product development or if they’re a truly animal cruelty-free company.

Why is a Checklist Necessary?

Since there is no standard or legal definition for the term ‘cruelty-free,’ brands can call themselves and their products ‘cruelty-free,’ and it can mean whatever they want it to mean.

This is why cruelty-free consumers must look beyond the label and fact-check a brand’s cruelty-free claims to ensure no animal testing occurs at any stage of manufacturing or anywhere in the world.

Also, some brands have carefully worded their animal testing policy to make it sound like they’re cruelty-free when in fact, they aren’t—for example, claims like we don’t test on animals, but we’re paying and allowing others to do so on our behalf.

To avoid falling for these cruelty-free loopholes and misleading claims, we make sure to ask brands a series of questions about their animal testing policy.

That way, we can ensure each brand checks all the boxes and has done all that it can to ensure no animals were harmed in the making of their products.

Cruelty-Free Checklist

We verify a brand’s animal testing policy and cruelty-free status using the following criteria and checklist:

• None of the brand’s products are tested on animals
• The brand can ensure none of its ingredient suppliers & manufacturers test on animals, and they verify this with documents or certifications.
• The brand does not allow or ask a third party to test its ingredients, formulations, or finished products on animals on its behalf.
• The brand does not allow its products or ingredients to be tested on animals when required by law.
• The brand does not sell its cosmetics in China under current conditions that may trigger animal tests. Brands must not be willing to allow the Chinese government to test their products or ingredients on animals.

It’s a checklist because, to be considered Cruelty-Free, brands must meet all of the above criteria.

Based on the responses we receive from each brand, we then categorize them as follows:

Cruelty-Free Brands (CF)

Only brands willing and able to answer all our questions and meet all the criteria in our Cruelty-Free Checklist are considered Cruelty-Free (CF). 

Animal-Tested Brands (X)

If a brand admits its products, ingredients, or formulations may have been tested on animals by the company, a third party, or its suppliers, we would not consider the brand cruelty-free. Instead, we classify the brand as Animal-Tested.

Grey Area Brands (?)

If a brand cannot answer or clarify one or more of the items from our Cruelty-Free Checklist, these brands get categorized as Grey Area.

Because we don’t have enough information, it’s unclear if these brands are truly cruelty-free or animal-tested.

Brands remain in the Grey Area until we receive more information or know more about their claims. 

*Cruelty-Free But… (*CF)

This is for brands that are technically ‘Cruelty-Free’ because they don’t test on animals. But there’s a disclaimer to follow. See below:

*Cruelty-Free But

• They’re owned by an animal testing parent company (i.e., NYX and Urban Decay are both cruelty-free, but L’Oreal owns them.)
• Or they sell a collection of animal hair makeup brushes (where obtaining hair from fur-bearing animals cannot be done in a cruelty-free manner.)
• Or they don’t offer any vegan products (I only list and recommend vegan products on my site, so it wouldn’t feel right to list a cruelty-free brand but not be able to recommend any of their products.)

Because there is no standard definition for the label ‘Cruelty-Free,’ I felt it was important to disclose these disclaimers so you can decide for yourself whether you want to buy from these brands. 

Get an Insider look at what we ask brands when verifying their cruelty-free commitments and animal testing policy with our email templates. (Only available to Ko-Fi members)

Our Cruelty-Free Standards

The Cruelty-Free Checklist is the criteria we use to verify a brand’s animal testing policy. We ask all brands the same set of questions before we list them in our brand directory. Feel free to use our criteria or modify it to make it your own!

I hope you found this post helpful when trying to decipher whether a brand is truly cruelty-free or not. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out, and I’ll try my best to help!

More Resources:

• Know The Diff: Cruelty-Free vs. Vegan
• Who To Trust? PETA or Leaping Bunny
• Beginner’s Guide: Vegan Beauty Basics
• To Know: Understanding China’s Animal Testing Laws
•  Heated Topic: Parent Company Animal Testing

The post Use This Cruelty-Free Checklist To Know When A Brand Tests on Animals or Not in 2023 appeared first on ethical elephant.

Here’s the 101 and the basics on what you need to know about Cruelty-Free cosmetics, personal care, and household cleaning products in 2023.

What is ‘Cruelty-Free’?

Products labeled ‘Cruelty-Free’ generally imply it wasn’t tested on animals. However, there is no standard or legal definition as to what exactly is and isn’t allowed to be labeled as ‘cruelty-free.’

Simply put, ‘Cruelty-Free’ can mean different things to different people.

Companies can call themselves or their products ‘cruelty-free,’ and it can mean whatever they want.

So it’s possible to come across a brand advertising its products as ‘cruelty-free’ when in fact, they do test on animals. (Except in the EU, where labeling restrictions exist for products marketed as ‘cruelty-free.’)

Misleading? — Yes.

Illegal? — No.

The FDA, responsible for regulating cosmetics labeling in the US, states on its website, “Consumers sometimes ask about use of claims such as “Cruelty-Free” or “Not Tested on Animals” on cosmetic labeling. Some cosmetic companies promote their products with claims of this kind in their labeling or advertising. The unrestricted use of these phrases by cosmetic companies is possible because there are no legal definitions for these terms.”

Unrestricted Use. No Legal Definition. — Without proper regulation or an official checklist that brands must meet to call themselves or their products “cruelty-free,” the term “cruelty-free” is generally meaningless in 2023.

If you want to find companies or products that are committed to never testing on animals, avoid asking, “is it cruelty-free?” instead, here’s what you need to look out for:

How To Know If It’s “Cruelty-Free”

Animal testing for cosmetics is generally not done by the cosmetic company itself.

So if you were to ask, “does your company test its products on animals?” – most of them will tell you no, the company itself does not conduct any animal testing.

Instead, it’s generally the ingredient suppliers, a third party, or a government agency that has been instructed to do so under current laws or regulations. And whether the company consented to this or has done its homework to ensure its supply chain is free from animal testing is where it matters.

Cruelty-Free Checklist

Here’s a checklist we created to ensure brands are committed to manufacturing and distributing their products without animal testing.

• Does the company test its finished products on animals?
• Does the company test any of its ingredients on animals?
• Does the company ask or commission a third party to test its products or ingredients on animals on its behalf?
• Do the company’s ingredient suppliers test on animals? If not, how do they verify or ensure that they don’t?
• Does the company allow its products or ingredients to be tested on animals when required by law?
• Does the company sell in countries (like mainland China) under current conditions that may require animal testing by law?

Get an Insider look at what we ask brands when verifying their cruelty-free commitments and animal testing policy with our email templates. (Only available to Ko-Fi members)

It’s important that a truly cruelty-free company is able and willing to answer all of the above questions to be considered cruelty-free in 2023.

All of the brands listed in our Cruelty-Free Directory have been vetted using the above checklist, and only brands that have cooperatively answered all of our questions are included in our lists.

If a company refuses to address any of the above questions or cannot provide clarification upon follow-up, we will not consider them cruelty-free, and they’re placed in our Unclear Policies — Grey Area Brand List.

Parent Company Animal Testing

It’s also worth mentioning that some brands that don’t test on animals are owned by a parent company that still engages in animal testing.

Some ethical consumers believe these brands shouldn’t be allowed to be called ‘cruelty-free’ as supporting and buying from them will indirectly fund more animal tests done by the parent company.

Whereas others believe we ought to continue supporting these brands as it will send a message to the parent company, and they’ll realize there’s consumer demand for ‘cruelty-free’ products and that they ought to stop testing on animals.

Because there are no legal or official guidelines on what is defined as ‘cruelty-free,’ the topic of whether we should buy or boycott brands owned by an animal-tested parent company is always a heated topic with no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer.

All Ingredients Have Been Tested On Animals At Some Point

A comment I always hear is that all ingredients were tested on animals at some point, so nothing can truly be “animal cruelty-free.”

My thoughts on this is that, yes, it’s true that some ingredients used in so-called “cruelty-free” products were tested on animals in the past.

But we can’t change what happened in the past. All we can do now is to ensure no more animals are used for cosmetic testing.

So, instead of focusing on what we can’t change, we can ask that companies not conduct new animal tests at any phase of product development and manufacturing either by the company itself, its ingredient suppliers, or commissioned to a third party or government agency.

Summary:

Since there is no legal definition of what is classified as ‘Cruelty-Free,’ brands can call their products ‘cruelty-free’ to mean whatever they want. But generally, the label ‘Cruelty-Free’ describes cosmetics, personal care, and household cleaning products as free from animal testing.

If you want to find products or brands that are ‘Cruelty-Free,’ I would advise you to avoid asking, “are your products cruelty-free?”

Instead, ask specific questions like those in our Cruelty-Free Checklist.

If you’re not sure, you can always reach out to me to ask about a specific brand or if you need a second opinion on a response you received from a company.

Together, we can help end animal testing for cosmetics once and for all.

More Resources:

• Know The Diff: Cruelty-Free vs. Vegan
• Who To Trust? PETA or Leaping Bunny
• Beginner’s Guide: Vegan Beauty Basics
• To Know: Understanding China’s Animal Testing Laws
•  Heated Topic: Parent Company Animal Testing

The post Decoding Cruelty-Free Cosmetics – What Does It Mean To Be ‘Cruelty-Free’ in 2023? appeared first on ethical elephant.

Do you know what those cute bunny logos on your cosmetics, personal care, and household cleaning products actually mean? 

You may associate the bunny logo with meaning the products and their ingredients are free from animal testing and is cruelty-free.

However, some of those “cruelty-free” bunny logos are fake and were created by brands themselves, some of which may still be testing on animals. 

Can you spot the difference between unofficial or ‘fake’ cruelty-free bunny logos vs. certified cruelty-free logos accredited by a third-party organization?

Know Your Cruelty-Free Bunny Logos

Below are some unofficial ‘cruelty-free’ bunny logos we just made up. I took some cute unlicensed bunny icons I found on the web. And to make it look legit, I used my basic Photoshop skills and added some unregulated terms like “Cruelty-Free,” “Not Tested on Animals,” and “No Animal Testing” to them. If I can do this, anyone can as well.

These unofficial bunny logos mean nothing. They’re cute but remember that they’re designed and marketed by the same people trying to sell you their products. 

On the other hand, the certified cruelty-free bunny logos on the right are accredited and licensed by a third-party organization. Companies must meet a list of cruelty-free standards, sign legal documents, and submit documentation to ensure compliance.

But not all certified cruelty-free logos are the same.

In this post, I’ll be examining the differences between two of the most popular cruelty-free certification programs: PETA and Leaping Bunny.

Bunny Logo

PETA has several variations of its certified cruelty-free logo. They’ve changed it several times throughout the years. The latest modification has a separate logo for companies selling their products in the EU because of the EU’s labeling laws that don’t allow companies to advertise their products as “cruelty-free.”

Companies may use different variations of PETA’s cruelty-free bunny logo but know they’re all the same and have the same standards. Except for the bunny logos that say “Vegan,” those are only designated to companies whose entire product line is free from animal-derived ingredients.

Leaping Bunny also has two variations of its cruelty-free bunny logo. One with and one without the words “Cruelty Free International” underneath.

Leaping Bunny is run by Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC) and Cruelty Free International (CFI).

CCIC deals with companies based in the US and Canada. And CFI, while based in the UK, handles all other brands with headquarters outside the US and Canada.

Additionally, in 2021, Choose Cruelty Free (CCF), an Australian cruelty-free certification program, merged with Cruelty Free International. As part of the merger, the CCF accreditation program has become part of the global Leaping Bunny family as of June 2021. 

Now that we’re familiar with each cruelty-free bunny logo let’s take a deep dive into the differences between Leaping Bunny and PETA’s cruelty-free certifications.

PETA’s Cruelty-Free Standards

To apply for PETA’s cruelty-free certification, companies must fill out a short questionnaire and submit a statement of assurance signed by the CEO. 

PETA’s process verifies that the company and its ingredient suppliers don’t conduct, commission, pay for, or allow any tests on animals for ingredients, formulations, or finished products anywhere in the world and won’t do so in the future.

Leaping Bunny’s Cruelty-Free Standards

Leaping Bunny verifies that a company does not conduct, commission, or be a party to animal testing for its finished products, formulations, and ingredients. Also, Leaping Bunny verifies that a company does not allow animal testing by regulatory authorities in foreign countries.

What sets Leaping Bunny apart from PETA’s standards is its Supplier Monitoring System, companies must be open to independent audits, and brands must recommit annually. 

Ingredient Suppliers

Leaping Bunny’s Supplier Monitoring System requires companies to show and submit proof of documents that their suppliers comply with Leaping Bunny’s standards.

PETA does not require brands to submit documents from their suppliers as proof of compliance.

Jen from My Beauty Bunny interviewed Kathy Guillermo, Senior Vice President of PETA’s Laboratory Investigations Department. In her interview, she confirmed that PETA does not require documents from suppliers, and instead, they request brands to have language in place with their suppliers that mandate a no-animal testing policy.

However, in the past, Suzi from Cruelty-Free Kitty exposed a PETA-certified brand that told her they were unable to confirm all of their suppliers don’t test on animals. 

Audits

Leaping Bunny-certified brands must be open to independent audits to ensure their supply chain management system is free of animal testing. Leaping Bunny may require brands to be audited to confirm that a certified company is truthful about purchasing ingredients from the corresponding cruelty-free suppliers they claimed when applying.

PETA does not conduct independent audits to ensure companies and their suppliers comply with its cruelty-free standards. 

Without audits and suppliers’ documents to prove compliance, the legitimacy of PETA’s standards depends on the honesty and accuracy of written statements made by the brand.

Recommitment

Leaping Bunny requires companies to recommit to its cruelty-free standards annually. Companies that don’t recommit are removed from Leaping Bunny’s directory. In addition, Leaping Bunny publishes a rolling list of brands that have chosen to recommit and those that did not. 

PETA does not require companies to go through a formal renewal process. And PETA does not have a publicly available list of brands no longer certified or removed from their cruelty-free directory. 

China

It used to be that companies that sold their products in China had to test on animals. However, recent updates to China’s animal testing laws have made it possible, under specific circumstances, for brands to register to sell domestically in China and avoid animal testing.

Here is how PETA and Leaping Bunny handle certified companies entering the Chinese marketplace.

Does PETA Allow Brands to Sell in China?

In the past, PETA removed several brands from its cruelty-free list when PETA investigations caught them selling in China, where at the time, animal testing was required for all cosmetics sold in China.

Now, PETA is working with brands like Dove, Herbal Essences, Wet n Wild, First Aid Beauty, and Physicians Formula to allow them to manufacture and sell their ‘general cosmetics’ in mainland China while remaining PETA-certified cruelty-free.

“In order to be eligible for inclusion on PETA’s Global Beauty Without Bunnies cruelty-free list, companies that sell in China may only sell domestically manufactured (made in China), non-special use cosmetics. They must commit to not introducing any products that would require tests on animals; to withdrawing their products from the region rather than allowing any tests on animals, should they become required; and to informing Chinese authorities of this policy to ensure that they are notified and can withdraw from the market in the unlikely event that animal tests become required for their products.” – PETA

Does Leaping Bunny Allow Brands to Sell in China?

Previously, Leaping Bunny did not allow certified brands to sell their products in stores in mainland China. However, in 2018, Leaping Bunny launched its China Pilot Project, allowing select brands to sell in China under their supervision. The project was only available to EU brands until now; Leaping Bunny just launched its China Qualification Program for certified companies in the US and Canada to sell in China and avoid animal testing.

Leaping Bunny China Qualification Program

“Leaping Bunny is partnering with trusted regulatory experts Knudsen&CRC, based in Shanghai, China, to ensure a company’s registration dossier does not include animal testing, along with post-market monitoring after sales commence. Companies will have to meet extensive registration criteria and will need to successfully complete both a Pre-Market Audit and a series of Post-Market Audits, conducted by Knudsen&CRC, which will screen for animal testing. Further, companies are required to sign an agreement promising to recall products rather than allow any animal testing, should the Chinese government require it for some reason.” – Leaping Bunny

Cruelty Free International China Pilot Project

“We have launched a ground-breaking pilot scheme that could pave the way for Leaping Bunny certified cosmetics companies to sell in China. By partnering with Knudsen&Co and Fengpu Industrial Park our project will help remove the remaining barriers of entry for cruelty free cosmetics brands looking to manufacture and market their products in China. International brands will be able to avoid testing on animals by producing cosmetics in China that don’t need post-market testing.” – Cruelty Free International

Cost

Application Fee

It is free to apply to PETA’s Global Beauty Without Bunnies Program. 

For US & Canadian companies, applying to Leaping Bunny’s program is free. However, companies with headquarters outside the US and Canada must go through Cruelty Free International’s Leaping Bunny Programme, which has an application fee. 

Licensing Fee

Companies that want to license and use the cruelty-free bunny logo on their product packaging and marketing materials must pay a licensing fee. However, licensing the cruelty-free bunny logo is optional and not required to be approved. 

PETA charges a one-time licensing fee of $350.

Leaping Bunny charges a one-time licensing fee, and it’s based on the company’s gross annual sales, ranging from $500 to $4,500 through CCIC, and starts at £149 per year for the smallest brands through CFI. 

Parent Companies

Both Leaping Bunny and PETA do not require parent companies to be certified.

Leaping Bunny states, “Brands that were purchased by non-certified parent companies must promise to operate as stand-alone subsidiaries with their own supply chains and must continue to meet the requirements of the Leaping Bunny Standard in order to remain on our list.”

Vegan

Companies can be certified by PETA under one of two designations, (1) Animal-Test Free or (2) Animal-Test Free and Vegan. A company’s entire product line must be vegan to qualify for PETA’s vegan designation. PETA defines ‘vegan’ as free of animal-derived ingredients.

Leaping Bunny does not require companies to be vegan or offer vegan products. Instead, Leaping Bunny strictly examines companies’ animal testing policies.

Conclusion

PETA and Leaping Bunny’s certifications are helpful for cruelty-free consumers wanting to make more conscious choices. Both programs were created to get companies to stop animal testing and encourage consumers to choose cruelty-free. 

PETA’s and Leaping Bunny’s programs are free to apply. However, both charge a licensing fee if companies want to advertise using their cruelty-free bunny logo. And the parent company does not need to be certified to be approved by either PETA or Leaping Bunny.

How the two certifications differ is Leaping Bunny requires companies to submit documents from their suppliers; companies must be open to independent audits and renew annually. PETA does not require any of the above; therefore, its standards are based on what the brand tells them. 

However, when shopping for both cruelty-free and vegan products, Leaping Bunny does not offer a vegan designation. On the other hand, PETA certifies companies that are animal-test-free and that are also vegan.

The post Leaping Bunny vs. PETA Cruelty-Free Certification – What’s the Difference? appeared first on ethical elephant.

I’m often asked why a brand isn’t on our cruelty-free brand directory when their company website says they’re cruelty-free, or they’re on PETA’s or Cruelty-Free Kitty’s database. I love hearing this question because it means caring consumers are doing their research and want to find companies that are being truthful about their cruelty-free claims.

So in this post, I break it down and explain why no two cruelty-free lists are alike. And why a company’s website may not be the most reliable source of information when verifying their cruelty-free status. This will hopefully provide you with some insight to help you make better and informed consumer choices.

Also, I think it’ll help to set some realistic expectations so that you don’t feel overwhelmed with all the different resources, lists, and certifications. Just know that there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to be cruelty-free. What works for one person may not work for you.

Defining ‘Cruelty-Free’

The label ‘cruelty-free’ means different things to different people. There is no legal or official definition so every company, organization, blogger, and consumer is going to have their own definition of what makes a product or brand ‘cruelty-free.’

That also means I can’t tell you who you should trust or which lists to use over others because I’m in no position to know what’s best for you and your situation. But what I can share is my own experience and opinions about each list and resource. These are my opinions from being a cruelty-free consumer and blogger over the years.

I will be discussing whether we should trust a company’s website, third-party cruelty-free certifications, cruelty-free bloggers list, email responses from companies, and a popular cruelty-free app.

Company’s Website or FAQ page

You can often find a company’s animal testing policy and statement on their website. It’s usually in their “About Us” or “FAQ” page.

What I Like:

Going directly to the source and hearing from the company themselves on what their animal testing policy is.

Not So Great Because:

It’s usually a short and generic statement like “we are a cruelty-free company and don’t test on animals!” This is not enough information for us to consider any brand cruelty-free as it doesn’t address any of our cruelty-free criteria.

By only referring to what’s stated on a company’s website means we’re trusting the same people who are trying to sell us their products. Keep in mind that no company will come out and say that they test on animals. Instead, animal-tested brands will usually say something like “we don’t test on animals, unless government officials require it.”

Third-Party Cruelty-Free Certifications

Leaping Bunny and PETA’s cruelty-free certifications are among the most popular accreditation for cruelty-free cosmetics, personal care, and household cleaning brands.

What I Like:

Cruelty-Free certifications like Leaping Bunny and PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies Program provide a level of assurance because someone other than the company is looking into and substantiating their cruelty-free claims.

Not So Great Because: 

These certifications are voluntary. A company must choose to apply and go through the process to be certified and listed on PETA’s or Leaping Bunny’s cruelty-free database. Many beauty brands choose not to apply, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not cruelty-free.

That’s why there’s only a limited number of brands on both lists and they’re not complete lists.

Also, something to note is these third-party cruelty-free certifications charge brands a licensing fee so although they’re non-profits, it’s still a business model where they’re making money off of certifying brands.

Cruelty-Free Bloggers List

If you’ve ever Google’d to find out if a brand is cruelty-free, you may have stumbled upon a cruelty-free bloggers’ website.

What I Like: 

I’m biased here because I’m a cruelty-free blogger myself. But most cruelty-free bloggers start out as being a cruelty-free consumer first. We reach out to brands to verify their cruelty-free status because we also want to know. And then we share what we find out by publishing responses and helpful lists.

What makes us different from official third-party certifications like PETA and Leaping Bunny is instead of waiting for brands to voluntarily come to us, we reach out to them. That’s why you’ll often find some brands on cruelty-free bloggers lists and not on PETA or Leaping Bunny.

Not So Great Because: 

Blogs are independently run by humans, they’re not official organizations. As a result, our findings are based on our own interpretations of the company’s responses. Some bloggers do more in-depth research than others. And then there are some blogs that are strictly created to make money. (Hint: if you see a lot of Amazon links or an excessive number of ads on their site, they’re most likely not doing it for the animals.)

At the end of the day, it all goes back to how each blogger defines what ‘cruelty-free’ means to them. That’s why we’ll see brands on some lists and not on others.

Cruelty-Free Mobile Apps

Cruelty Cutter is a popular mobile app that many cruelty-free consumers rely on and use while they shop.

What I Like:

It’s super convenient where it lets you search, browse, and scan products while on the go to identify which brands are cruelty-free or not. It’s also created and operated by The Beagle Freedom Project who claims to conduct its own independent research and request statements from brands while comparing its data with cruelty-free authorities.

Not So Great Because:

The app itself hasn’t been updated since 2018 and recent user reviews say many are experiencing bugs and problems using the app. In addition, they don’t have much information about their official cruelty-free standards or criteria.

Contact the Company Yourself

Additionally, consumers can contact and email the company to ask about their stance on animal testing.

What I Like:

You’re in control over the type of questions you ask brands when confirming their cruelty-free status. This allows you to establish your own cruelty-free standards and speak with someone directly from the company instead of through a third party.

Not So Great Because: 

This can be incredibly time-consuming and tedious. Sometimes you won’t hear back from a company for weeks or at all. And you might get inconsistent responses from the same company as there is more than one person that answers company emails.

What Now?

As you can tell, there isn’t a cruelty-free list or resource that is universally better or more comprehensive than the others.

It really just comes down to their standards, criteria, and how that information is being delivered. I like to advise cruelty-free consumers to use and cross-reference multiple cruelty-free lists.

If you see a brand listed on multiple cruelty-free lists, then that’s usually a good sign. And if you can’t seem to find a brand on any list but the brand claims they’re cruelty-free on their website, you may want to contact the company directly to ask for more information.

Some helpful cruelty-free resources to check out:

• 5 Ways To Know If Your Cosmetics are Cruelty-Free
• Our Cruelty-Free Criteria and Checklist
• We Compare The Different Certified Cruelty-Free Bunny Logos
• Explanation of Cruelty-Free & Vegan Certifications & Claims
• Cruelty-Free Loopholes To Watch Out For
• Vegan Beauty Basics

The post Why No Cruelty-Free Lists Are The Same – So Who Can We Trust? appeared first on ethical elephant.

Did you know there’s a difference between cosmetics labeled Cruelty-Free vs. Vegan? And Vegetarian vs. Vegan? And that not all Certified Cruelty-Free Bunny Logos have the same standards and criteria?

In this post, I’m sharing some of the most common cruelty-free and vegan claims, labels, and logos that we often see on cosmetics and household cleaning products. As well as, providing an overview of which ones are regulated, the organizations issuing these certifications, their requirements, and the cost associated with licensing their logos.

And because no certification or standard is perfect or all-inclusive, I’ll also be sharing some things to look out for. That way, we can set some realistic expectations when we shop for cruelty-free and vegan cosmetics.

By the end of this post, you’ll have a better understanding of what each cruelty-free and vegan claim actually means, and hopefully, it’ll help you make better and informed consumer choices.

Cruelty-Free And Vegan Certifications and Claims

Let’s begin with some standard marketing claims that we often see on cosmetics like “our products don’t contain animal ingredients,” “we are cruelty-free,” “all of our products are vegan-friendly,” or “suitable for vegetarians.”

The main issue with these unregulated cruelty-free and vegan marketing claims is that there is no standard definition of what they truly mean. So it’s entirely up to companies to define these labels themselves. And no one else is substantiating these claims but the same people who are trying to sell us their products.

Use of Unregulated Labels

But just because a company uses one of the unregulated labels doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re trying to mislead or deceive us. It just requires us to be more vigilant and to do our research to find out exactly what the company means when they call their products cruelty-free, vegetarian, or vegan.

I like to email or message the company directly to ask. And if I ever feel like they’re dodging my questions or giving me a generic response, I will reconsider buying from them. I’d rather support another company that is more transparent about its ingredients and policies.

Cruelty-Free & Vegan Certifications

Now let’s look into some common cruelty-free and vegan certifications found on cosmetics and household cleaning products. These certifications are different from the above marketing claims and statements because there is a third party verifying these claims.

Overview:

What does it mean? The brand has verified that they and their suppliers do not conduct, commission, pay for, or allow any tests on animals for their ingredients, formulations, or finished products anywhere in the world and that they will never do so in the future. Learn More.

Who certifies it? PETA

What is required? Brands must fill out a questionnaire and submit a statement of assurance signed by the CEO.

What’s the cost? Free but if companies want to use and license the cruelty-free bunny logo, it costs $350

What to Look Out For:

• PETA does not conduct routine audits to ensure compliance
• PETA does not require documentation from suppliers, and only require brands to have language in place with their suppliers
• Therefore the legitimacy of PETA’s standards depends on the honesty and accuracy of written statements made by the brand.
• PETA’s standards are less strict compared to other third-party cruelty-free certifications, see here for comparison.
• This does not mean the product is vegan

Overview:

Who certifies it? Choose Cruelty Free (CCF)

June 1, 2021 Update! Choose Cruelty Free will now be joining Cruelty Free International & Leaping Bunny (see below)

Overview:

What does it mean? The company does not conduct or commission animal testing on any of its products, formulations, or ingredients. The company also does not purchase any ingredients, formulations, or products from any third party manufactuers or suppliers that test on animals.

What is required? Brands must meet the Standard set by Leaping Bunny which also includes implementing a Supplier Monitoring System where brands must agree to an independent audit. Brands must also recommit annually.

Who certifies it? Leaping Bunny through CCIC or Cruelty Free International

What’s the cost? Free to apply via CCIC but CFI requires a fee. And if companies want to use and license the cruelty-free bunny logo, the licensing fee is based on the company’s gross annual sales.

What to Look Out For:

Leaping Bunny does not have any restrictions on the use of animal ingredients therefore some LB certified brands are not vegan.

Overview:

What does it mean? Brands whose entire product line is free of animal-derived ingredients. As well as, brands that have verified that they and their suppliers do not conduct, commission, pay for, or allow any tests on animals for their ingredients, formulations, or finished products anywhere in the world. Learn More.

Who certifies it? PETA

What is required? Brands must fill out a questionnaire and submit a statement of assurance signed by the CEO.

What’s the cost? Free but if companies want to use and license the cruelty-free bunny logo, it costs $350

What to Look Out For:

• PETA does not conduct routine audits to ensure compliance
• PETA does not require documentation on each ingredient to verify they are both not animal-derived or animal-tested
• Therefore the legitimacy of PETA’s standards depends on the honesty and accuracy of written statements made by the brand.
• PETA’s standards are less strict compared to other third-party cruelty-free certifications, see here for comparison.

Overview:

What does it mean? This product does not contain animal products or by-products and has not been tested on animals. Learn More.

Who certifies it? Vegan Action

What is required? Documentation on each ingredient must be provided to show it is both not animal-derived and not tested on animals since the year 2000. After a 12-month period, approved products will be reviewed and an updated agreement is required.

What to Look Out For:

• Vegan Action may contact suppliers and manufacturers but they do not conduct or commission independent audits to ensure compliance
• Therefore the legitimacy of Vegan Action’s standards depends on the honesty and accuracy of written statements made by the brand and its suppliers

What’s the cost? $100 and the annual licensing fee is based on the company’s annual revenue from the previous fiscal year.

Overview:

What does it mean? This product does not contain any animal product, by-product, or derivative. And the product and its ingredients do not involve testing of any sort on animals conducted at the initiative of the company or on its behalf or by parties over whom the company has effective control. Learn More.

Who certifies it? The Vegan Society

What is required? Company must provide signed written statements by the manufacturer proving they meet the criteria.

What to Look Out For:

• Vegan Society requires on-site audits for certified restaurant dishes, but it’s unclear if they conduct or commission independent audits for cosmetics and household cleaning products.
• Therefore the legitimacy of The Vegan Society’s standards depends on the honesty and accuracy of written statements made by the brand and its suppliers & manufacturers.

What’s the cost? They do not specify their application costs or licensing fees but state they have a variety of fee structures.

Overview:

What does it mean? This product is free from animal-derived ingredients, no animal testing is carried out or commissioned, no cross-contamination during production, and is GMO-free.

Who certifies it? The Vegetarian Society

What is required? Products must meet their strict criteria where they check ingredient lists and specification sheets. A review of documentation relating to production processes to check for the risk of cross-contamination is also required. This can also include visits to production sites. Learn More.

What to Look Out For:

• They have two trademark logos, one for Vegetarian products and another for Vegan products. The criteria for Vegetarian approved products states it must be free from any ingredient resulting from slaughter.

What’s the cost? I couldn’t find any information on their application costs or licensing fees.

As you can tell, not all cruelty-free and vegan certifications or claims are the same. Each has its own set of standards and criteria. And there isn’t one certification that is universally better than the others.

Additionally, these are only some of the most popular claims and certifications you’ll find on cosmetics and household cleaning products in the US and Canada. There are more vegan-certifying organizations around the world. So be sure to check the standards of all cruelty-free and vegan third-party certifications to ensure their standards are credible and trustworthy.

I hope you found this post explaining all of the various cruelty-free and vegan claims and labels for cosmetics to be helpful. Feel free to reach out at any time if you ever have any questions!

The post Cruelty-Free and Vegan Cosmetics Certifications & Claims Explained appeared first on ethical elephant.

Here it is! A master list of cruelty-free makeup brands that have confirmed their mica is ethically-sourced without child labor. It took me months to compile this list but I know it’s something many of you have been asking for.

If you’re not aware of the widespread issue of child labor and labor abuse in Indian mica mines, I suggest reading this post of everything you need to know about this controversial shimmery makeup ingredient.

About This Ethical Mica Makeup List

I reached out to all of the cruelty-free makeup brands in my Brand Directory to ask if they use ethically-sourced mica that’s child-labor-free. I learned from each company that responded and I researched to get a better understanding of the best solutions for sourcing natural mica responsibly and ethically. I then analyzed every response I received to determine if I believe the company is doing everything it possibly can to ensure its mica is ethically-sourced.

I’ve also included a separate list, at the bottom, of cruelty-free makeup brands that are only using synthetic mica that’s made in a lab, and therefore no child labor is involved.

*Note that this list is exclusively for brands that are (1) listed in our cruelty-free directory and have met our cruelty-free standards and (2) that offer some makeup products. I’m currently working on a separate list for nail polish brands, skin & body care brands, and haircare brands.

If you want to know and learn more about the responses I received from each brand, I’ve been adding their email responses at the very bottom of their corresponding brand page. See below for how to find the brand’s response to their ethical mica sourcing policy.

This will now be a requirement for all cruelty-free brands before they’re approved and listed in our Directory.

There are several cruelty-free makeup brands that I never heard back from but I will keep trying.

However, if after multiple attempts, brands that fail to address if their mica is ethically-sourced, will no longer be listed in our Cruelty-Free Brand Directory.

For example, I’ve reached out to Anastasia Beverly Hills four times in the past year and I’ve never received a response from the brand. Because of their lack of transparency, I’ve decided to remove them from my master list of cruelty-free brands.

This is part of our ongoing process to redefine what it means to be a “truly cruelty-free” brand in 2021. Stay tuned for more updates!

The post 100+ Cruelty-Free Makeup Brands Using Ethical Mica appeared first on ethical elephant.

In this post, I’m tackling the labor abuse and ethical problems associated with sourcing one of the most popular ingredients used in makeup today, Mica.

Here’s what I discovered about the ethical concerns over mica in makeup and what some cruelty-free brands are doing about it.

What is Mica?

Mica is a naturally occurring mineral commonly used in cosmetics to add shimmer to makeup. It can be found in lipsticks, eyeshadow, nail polish, sunscreens, deodorants, shampoo, and more.

But the seemingly harmless sparkly ingredient has been linked to child labor in India, specifically in impoverished states of Jharkhand and Bihar. Where children as young as five years old have been reported working in these illegal mica mines.

Although mica can be sourced from around the world, 25% of the mica used today come from illegal mines in India where child labor is widespread.

The Problem With Child Labor Mica

Families living in extreme poverty in India have no choice but to rely on their children working in illegal mica mines to help support the family.

But for obvious reasons, mica mines are no place for young children. Workers are exposed to occupational hazards like cuts, head injuries, exhaustion, heatstroke, and long-term exposure to toxic air that can lead to respiratory infections including silicosis, tuberculosis, and asthma. As well as, the deadly threat of a cave collapsing.

“Only 10% of mica mines in Jharkhand and Bihar are legal, which means that most mines aren’t regulated and most labour laws aren’t enforced.” (World Vision)

A 2016 investigation discovered the cover-up of seven children’s death in the span of two months in India. The report also estimates that less than 10% of mica-related deaths are reported to the police as families are bribed with ‘blood money’ to cover up and stay quiet about these illegal operations.

The Solution To Child Labor Mica

The solution to eradicating child labor in mica mines in India is complex and unfortunately, there is no one right solution.

For starters, boycotting all mica sourced from India may not be the solution as many families rely on the mica industry as their primary source of income. Demanding greater supply chain transparency and traceability will help with the issue but without proper audits and enforcement, the issue of child labor will remain.

Note: India isn’t the only place that’s known to be exploiting child labor in mica mines, it’s also a widespread issue in Madagascar.

There also needs to be some government intervention. Where some experts suggest granting more mining licenses so that the mica industry can be properly policed and where an operator can report to the state to ensure workers’ safety and no child workers.

Because children are working in these mica mines, 5-6 days a week and up to 12 hours per day, they’re not going to school.

As a result, NGOs and corporations are tackling the issue of child labor by helping to fund schools in villages in regions with low literacy and school attendance rates and to help end the cycle of mining. That’s the goal of the National Resources Stewardship Council (NRSC), to build 500 “Child-Friendly Villages” and improve living conditions in mica areas to get children into school instead of returning to mining mica.

The Solution for Cruelty-Free Beauty Brands:

But what are ‘cruelty-free’ brands doing to ensure their mica is ethically sourced without the use of child labor? I’ve reached out to several cruelty-free brands to hear what some are doing and this is what I’ve found out.

Synthetic Mica?

Some ethical beauty brands have chosen to use synthetic mica (or synthetic fluorphlogopite) as a substitute for natural mica. Synthetic mica is made in a lab so there is no risk of child-labor. But switching to synthetic mica is not always easy and comes with its own set supply chain traceability issues.

In 2014, cruelty-free cosmetic brand, Lush decided to switch to using synthetic mica that is made in a lab. But later discovered the synthetic mica it was using had traces of natural mica. It took them four years of tighter control to finally declare all of its products are formulated with synthetic mica.

“Because of concerns over child labour in the mining of natural mica, Lush has made a commitment to remove it completely from its production.” – Lush

In addition, I also learned that some cruelty-free brands will use a combination of natural and synthetic mica. Stating they’ll use synthetic mica when they’re unable to ensure their natural mica supply chains are child labor-free. For example:

“We choose synthetic mica when we can’t vet and guarantee that the source of our mica is child-labor-free.”
– Aether Beauty

“We incorporate the use of both natural and synthetic micas in our Bare Republic shimmer products. We only use natural micas if we can ensure they are mined responsibly, and we require documentation verifying the sourcing strategy from each of our suppliers.”
– Bare Republic

Since mica is a naturally-occurring mineral, many natural, organic, and ‘clean’ beauty brands love using it. But some of the organic cruelty-free brands I spoke with told me switching to synthetic mica is not an option for them because as I was told, “synthetic products are not organic products.”

Ethical Mica Certifications?

Unfortunately, there aren’t any third-party certifications that consumers can use to identify which makeup brands are using ethically-sourced mica.

From my research, the most common and established organization that some brands have claimed to be part of is the Responsible Mica Initiative (RMI). 

RMI is a non-governmental organization aimed to build a sustainable mica supply chain in India by promoting responsible sourcing practices and eradicating child labor and unacceptable working conditions.

And surprisingly, some non-cruelty-free corporations are also members of RMI including Chanel, Clarins, L’Oreal, and Shiseido.

And in my research, I found that although some cruelty-free brands may not be “active members” of RMI, some brands have claimed their mica suppliers are members of RMI. For example:

“Our MICA suppliers are members of the “responsible mica initiative” and are therefore committed to guaranteeing the best possible working conditions.”
– Avril

“Our Mica suppliers are limited to members of the Responsible Mica Initiative (RMI).”
– BH Cosmetics

“We’re happy to confirm that our suppliers of mica (sourced in India) are active members of The Responsible Mica Initiative (RMI)’ and have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to child labor.”
– Deborah Lippmann

Sourcing U.S. or Non-Indian Mica?

Some cruelty-free brands claim they’re combating the issue of child-labor mica from India and Madagascar simply by choosing not to use mica sourced from these regions. For example:

“The mica we use is sourced from the USA, is ethical without the use of child labour.”
– Antipodes

“…we have contacted our supplier about where they source their mica. They provided us with an official statement assuring us that they sell no pigments that are manufactured with mica powder from mines in India or South Africa.”
– Axiology

“Our mica is ethically sourced from the U.S with no child labor involved.”
– Fitglow

But as stated earlier, boycotting Indian mica won’t solve their labor problems associated with child labor, extreme poverty, and unsafe working conditions.

Additionally, some report tracing the true origins of mica to be challenging.

“The supply chain of mica is complex, making child labor challenging to address. Intermediaries buy mica after it has been extracted from informal mines, and transport the mineral to the nearest trading centre, where they sell to other intermediaries or directly to exporters. Pigment producers purchase the mica for manufacturing purposes, and then sell to cosmetics brands we see lining the shelves of local pharmacies and beauty stores.” (World Vision)

Going Mica-Free?

Can’t we just avoid mica in our beauty routine altogether?

There are lots of skincare, bath and body, and hair care brands that are completely mica-free if you wish to go without mica.

But out of the 238 cruelty-free makeup brands I have in our directory, I only found two brands that are mica-free: Foraged Fields and Valdé.

Since mica is commonly used to add shimmer or sparkle to makeup products, you can try opting for products with a matte finish. But even so, mica is sometimes used in makeup to absorb excess oil and to give it a consistent texture. So, always check the ingredients.

In my opinion, going 100% mica-free in our makeup routine may not be the most attainable and realistic solution to tackling the problem of children mining mica for makeup.

So What Can We Do? Ask Questions!

So far, I’ve contacted over 300 cruelty-free brands from my brand directory to ask if their mica is ethically-sourced. And I’ve gotten mixed responses across the board.

But since there isn’t one right answer, it makes it difficult to know if brands are doing ‘enough’ to ensure their mica is sourced without child labor.

I’m also still unsure what the best approach is and whether it’s better to use synthetic mica, or to only source mica from suppliers that are members of RMI, or to only use mica that’s not mined from India, or the solution is a combination of the above?

And because there’s no quick fix, I think it’s important now, more than ever, to start asking our favorite cruelty-free brands about their sourcing policy and labor standards of their mica. Choosing to support and buy from those that are willing and able to address our ethical concerns.

In addition, we can raise awareness to pressure India’s government to regulate their mica industry. And support initiatives that help to improve their living conditions so no child is forced to work in unsafe mica mines.

What’s Next?

Moving forward, I will be asking all brands if their mica is sourced ethically when verifying their animal testing policy and before I add them to our Cruelty-Free Brand Directory.

I’m currently working on a list of cruelty-free makeup brands that have confirmed their mica is ethically-sourced without the use of child labor.

In addition, I will be slowly including information about each brand’s ethical mica policy on their respective brand’s post.

This way, you’ll have access to the same information as me including what brands have told me. From there, you can decide for yourself if their answers meet your ethical standards.

Resources on Child Labor Mica:

I’m in no way an expert on this topic but just a conscious consumer trying her best to support more ethical beauty brands. For more information and resources on child labor mica, here are some great sources to check out:

• Canada’s Child & Forced Labour Problem – World Vision
• Hidden Cost of Beauty: The Risk of Child Labour in Canadian Cosmetics – World Vision
• Blood Mica – Thomson Reuters Foundation News
• Beauty Companies and The Struggle to Source Child Labour-Free Mica – The Guardian
• Beauty and a Beast – SOMO
• Who Suffers for Beauty – Danwatch
• Global Mica Mining and the Impact on Children’s Rights – Terre des Hommes
• Video: The Dark Secret Behind Your Favourite Makeup Products – Refinery29

The post Child Labor-Free & Ethical Mica in Makeup – What’s the Solution? appeared first on ethical elephant.

We’ve seen a lot of progress being made in China regarding its animal testing laws for cosmetics in recent years.

But the spread of misleading headlines and their unclear policy changes have left us unsure of who or what to believe is the truth. This has been especially the case in the last couple of years about whether China is still conducting post-market testing on animals.

This has resulted in conflicting opinions among animal rights organizations, cruelty-free bloggers, and experts about the issue of post-market testing in China.

The issue: It’s debated whether animals are still being used in the event where post-market testing is required for cosmetics sold in China.

Background on China’s Post-Market Testing

If you’re not familiar with China’s animal testing laws, I highly recommend checking out this post first. But if you want the TL;DR version – Pre-market animal tests are no longer required for ordinary cosmetics that are produced and sold in China but the risk of post-market animal tests may still occur.

And in the last few years, some cruelty-free brands have been claiming that post-market testing in China is no longer done on animals. As conscious consumers, it was hard to take what these brands were saying at face value as we weren’t sure if they were telling the truth or just trying to get us to buy from them.

So I’ve done my own extensive research on the topic of post-market testing and China’s animal testing laws to figure out whether it’s still being done on animals or not. And here’s what I found out.

I’m going to link to as many sources and articles as possible so that you can do your own research. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or email me directly.

What is Post-Market Testing?

To understand China’s animal testing laws, one needs to know the difference between pre-and post-market testing.

Pre-market testing is when cosmetics are tested during product registration and before they’re sold to customers.

And post-market testing is when officials conduct routine or non-routine tests on cosmetics after the product is available for sale in stores.

What’s changed? In 2019, it was announced that post-market testing for finished imported and domestically produced cosmetics in China will not include animal tests. But it was later confirmed by HSI the new policy does not apply to all post-market tests. Only routine tests or ‘confirmatory’ tests will no longer involve animals.

Routine vs. Non-Routine Post-Market Testing

Routine Tests – where cosmetics are randomly pulled from store shelves to confirm the product is authentic and consistent with what’s in their records

Non-Routine Tests – cosmetics are investigated in the event of a customer complaint, safety concern, or suspected serious public health issue

As mentioned earlier, as of 2019, routine tests in China no longer involve animals. 

And it’s been reported that non-routine tests rarely involve animals. Knudsen & CRC, a Shanghai consultancy group, says that’s because animal testing is expensive and time-consuming. Costing 5-10 times more and taking 3 months to complete compared to other safety assessments.

Product Recalls If It Does Happen

From my research, it seemed like most experts agree that non-routine tests are rare and highly unlikely.

And if it ever does happen, companies will be given the opportunity to remove their products from China if post-market animal tests were required.

In fellow cruelty-free blogger, My Beauty Bunny’s interview with Leaping Bunny, they both agreed that post-market testing on animals isn’t a thing anymore. And that product safety recalls were more likely to happen than animal tests.

Additionally, Knudsen & CRC, the consultancy group working alongside Cruelty Free International on its China Pilot Program, also agreed that “in the highly unlikely event of any safety concerns, the authorities have agreed that the companies will be able to recall products rather than face animal tests.”

Post-Market Animal Tests Hasn’t Been Done in Years

Many reports claim that post-market animal testing in China hasn’t been done in years. My Beauty Bunny discovered that it’s in fact, all public record. It again goes back to the fact there are cheaper and faster non-animal methods and alternatives available so experts say animals have not been used for post-market testing in years.

Post-Market Animal Tests Can Happen Here Too

My Beauty Bunny wrote an insightful post about how post-market animal tests are not just limited to China, but that it can possibly happen here in the US, EU, or Canada too. She explains that regulators, authorities, and academia can pull a product off store shelves and conduct animal tests. The same way Chinese officials have been claimed to do.

If cosmetic products sold here in the US or Canada are also at risk of being pulled from store shelves and tested on animals, then shouldn’t we also be boycotting all brands that are sold here too?

But It’s Not 100% Guarantee

The fact that China’s laws do not explicitly exclude the use of animals for post-market testing has many consumers feeling uneasy with supporting companies that choose to put their products at risk of possibly being tested on animals in China.

Jen from My Beauty Bunny spoke with the Director of Scientific Communications & Animal Welfare Advocacy at P&G and he told her “We have been told by Chinese authorities that no products of other P&G beauty brands have been tested on animals over the past couple of years. While there is no 100% guarantee, they told us that in case of a health-related consumer complaint, they would reach out to us to provide further safety perspective.  If they then believe more is necessary, they would consider follow up testing, but usually patch testing with human volunteers, not animal testing.“

But because it’s not 100% certain that post-market testing will never be conducted on animals, some cruelty-free consumers don’t think it’s good enough to support these brands yet.

The most recent article I could find from HSI from 2020 also states they’re not sure, “The regulation also provides for routine post-market sampling inspections by provincial authorities, including for cosmetics with reported safety problems. It is unclear whether such inspections and investigations could involve animal testing. This uncertainty has long been a barrier to cruelty-free beauty brands entering the Chinese market.”

In the end, it’s still not 100% certain whether animal tests have been completely removed from post-market testing in China. And the fact that animal testing for cosmetics is not banned in China allows officials to issue and conduct whatever test methods they want.

Summary of Post-Market Testing in China

What I gathered is that post-market testing using animals is highly unlikely but not 100% guaranteed. However, it’s not only a risk in China, but that post-market animal test is also possible for all cosmetic brands selling anywhere in the world including the US.

And in China, in the unlikely event that it does happen, companies can remove their products from China than allow them to be tested on animals.

All that being said, China has a public record for all animal tests conducted and it appears that animals used for post-market tests haven’t been done in years. But I need to restate again that it’s still not 100% guarantee that animals will never be used for post-market testing on animals in China because their laws do not explicitly exclude the use of animals.

Unfortunately, it’s not a clear or straight answer of whether China’s post-market testing still involves animals or not. I’m only sharing my research and what I found to hopefully shine some light on this topic.

But you’ll have to use your own judgment and personal preference of whether you would consider brands that are selling in China that claim to be ‘cruelty-free’ is worthy to be considered cruelty-free to your standards.

This issue is complex and unfortunately, there’s no straight answer. So I hope I could provide you with another resource on your journey to create positive change.

Side note: I rewrote this post three times. My first two drafts were too long and information overload. But if you have any questions or want references to my sources, or would like to read more into anything I wrote about, please just let me know!

I hope you found this post helpful. It took me months to research this topic and if you’d like to support me and my work ~ any contribution, big or small ~ would be greatly appreciated!

The post The Truth About Post-Market Animal Testing in China appeared first on ethical elephant.

There’s been a lot of confusion about China’s animal testing laws for cosmetics in 2021, especially with their most recent changes that came into effect on Jan 1, 2021.

In this post, I’ll be walking you through everything you need to know about China’s animal testing laws in 2021. Including a brief history of China’s mandatory animal testing regulations, how they define cosmetics, the risk of post-market testing, and the current state of animal testing for cosmetics in China.

China is the only country that requires cosmetics to be tested on animals and they have the second-largest beauty market so it’s important we familiarize ourselves with their laws to ensure the cruelty-free companies we buy from in our region aren’t testing on animals elsewhere in the world.

A Comprehensive Breakdown of China’s Animal Testing Laws:

• A brief history of China’s Animal Testing Laws from 2012 to 2021
• Special-Use Cosmetics vs. Non-Special Use Cosmetics
• Non-Special Use Cosmetics that Require Animal Testing in 2021
• Non-Special Use Cosmetics that are Exempt from Animal Testing in 2021
• Explanation of Where Cosmetics are Sold in China Matters
• What About ‘Made in China’ Cosmetics?
• Post- vs. Pre-Market Animal Testing in China
• Has China Banned Animal Testing in 2021?
• Where Do We Go From Here?

History of China’s Animal Testing Laws 2012-Present

In 2012, it was revealed that cosmetics sold in China were required to be tested on animals. As a result, cosmetic companies had to choose between sticking to their cruelty-free values or prioritize profits by allowing their products to be animal-tested. Unfortunately, some brands like L’Occitane, Yves Rocher, and Caudalie chose the latter thereby losing their cruelty-free designations.

During this time, all cosmetics brands wanting to sell in China had to submit a sample of their products to a Chinese lab to be animal-tested upon registration. Even if those same products and their ingredients were already proven safe using non-animal testing methods in their local markets. Companies were required to provide a sample of their products to be tested on animals before they can sell in China.

The rule was simple, if you wanted to sell in China, you had to agree to and pay Chinese scientists to test your products in Chinese labs.

But good news came in 2014 when China changed their animal testing requirements allowing domestically-manufactured non-special use cosmetics to be exempt from their animal testing requirements if reliable safety assessment reports were provided.

And effective on Jan 1, 2021, China made some major changes to its animal testing laws lifting the mandatory animal testing requirements for some imported cosmetics.

But before we get into China’s animal testing laws in 2021, we first need to understand that China divides cosmetics into two categories: Special-Use and Non-Special Use Cosmetic

Special-Use Cosmetics

Special-Use Cosmetics are products that make a functional claim like hair dyes, hair perming products, sunscreens, whitening products, anti-hair loss and cosmetics claiming new efficacy.

Special-Use Cosmetics are still required to be tested on animals. That also includes special-use cosmetics that were manufactured or made in China.

If it’s sold in China and it’s considered a special-use cosmetic, then animal testing is required by law, regardless if it was made in China.

Non-Special Use Cosmetics

Non-Special Use Cosmetics, sometimes referred to as Ordinary or General Cosmetics, are pretty much everything else and include makeup, skincare, hair care products, nail polish, and perfumes.

Also, toothpaste is now considered an Ordinary Cosmetics according to China. However, for some reason, body soaps are not classified as cosmetics in China.

The changes to China’s animal testing laws only apply to Ordinary Cosmetics.

Ordinary Cosmetics That Require Animal Tests

China’s new animal testing requirements do NOT exempt ALL ordinary cosmetics from animal testing.

Animal tests are required for ordinary cosmetics if they meet at least one of the following:

• Products are marketed or designed for infants and/or children
• Products that contain a ‘new cosmetic ingredient’
• The notifier/RP/manufacturer is listed as a key supervision target according to the results of the quantitative rating system established by the NMPA

If any of the above conditions apply, companies will be required to conduct animal testing. This article from ChemLinked has more information if you want to learn more.

If a company’s product doesn’t fall into one of the above criteria then they may qualify to be exempt from animal testing in 2021, but only if they meet a set of pre-conditions.

How Can a Company Avoid Animal Testing in China?

Foreign cosmetics companies wanting to import and sell their non-special use cosmetics in China without pre-market animal testing must meet two specific pre-conditions:

• Obtain GMP certifications issued and granted by the local government cosmetic authority
• Provide a Safety Assessment that can fully confirm the safety of products

I spoke to a few US-based cruelty-free brands and they told me obtaining these certifications and safety assessments have proven difficult.

The GMP certifications must be issued by the local government, however, in some regions, it’s uncommon for a government entity to issue these certificates. It’s usually issued by cosmetic associations or international standardization organizations.

However, France recently announced they have set up an online platform allowing manufacturers and French cosmetic companies to obtain these certificates. So, we may see other countries in the EU and the UK following suit.

But it’s unclear whether the Chinese government will recognize these certificates and safety assessments issued by foreign institutions.

For now, I have not heard of any cosmetics brands that have successfully been approved to export and sell their non-special use cosmetics in China without animal testing.

Where Cosmetics are Sold in China Matters

Also, China’s animal testing laws do not apply to all ordinary cosmetics that are sold in China. The laws depend on how and where cosmetics companies choose to distribute their products to Chinese consumers.

Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan – Cosmetics can be imported and sold in these regions without animal testing. That’s because Hong Kong and Macau are not part of mainland China and they don’t have the same animal testing laws as mainland China. And because I get asked this a lot, Taiwan is not part of China, in fact, Taiwan has banned cosmetic animal testing for both finished products and cosmetic ingredients in 2019.

Sold Online – Cosmetics that are sold direct-to-consumer through cross border e-commerce sites have never been required to test on animals. That includes companies selling from their own website or on an online Chinese retailers’ website like Tmall, TaoBao, and JD, in which products are shipped directly to consumers and therefore they do not need to be tested on animals.

Mainland China – China’s animal testing requirements mostly apply to cosmetics that are sold in physical retail stores in mainland China. If a company’s cosmetic products are marketed on a store shelf in any mainland China store, then they had to file and register their products & ingredients in China which may have required animal testing.

This is why I specifically ask brands whether they sell in stores in mainland China.

What About Cosmetics ‘Made in China’

This is perhaps one of the most common questions I get asked, whether cosmetics that are made in China are required to be tested on animals?

Cosmetics that are made in China but not sold in China were never required to be tested on animals. For example, ELF Cosmetics is an American cosmetics company that makes most of its products in China. However, since they are not selling their products in China, they were never required to test on animals.

But what about cosmetics that are sold and made in China?

In 2014, China updated their animal testing laws allowing domestically-manufactured ordinary cosmetics to be exempt from pre-market testing if reliable safety assessments were provided.

Many cruelty-free brands like Wet n Wild, Physicians Formula, Nudestix, First Aid Beauty, and Jack Black saw this as an opportunity to expand into China while remaining true to their cruelty-free philosophy.

These brands were able to bypass China’s pre-market testing requirements by manufacturing the products they intended to sell in mainland China in a local facility.

Moving the manufacturing or final product assembly of their ordinary cosmetics to China allowed brands to avoid China’s pre-market animal testing requirements.

However, some animal rights organizations and experts weren’t celebrating yet as the risk of post-market animal tests was still a possibility.

Post-Market & Pre-Market Testing

Post-market surveillance testing is conducted after product registration has been approved and the product is already marketed on store shelves in China. This is where they’ll randomly test products to make sure that the products sold to customers are authentic and consistent with what’s in their records.

Or in the event of a customer complaint, Chinese officials will administer product safety tests which may or may not involve animal test subjects.

But many experts and organizations have conflicting opinions on whether post-market tests are still being conducted on animals.

In 2019, it was announced that post-market testing in China will not include animal tests and it was also reported that post-market testing hasn’t been conducted on animals in years and that it’s all public record.

Additionally, some cruelty-free brands that are currently selling domestically-manufactured ordinary cosmetics in China have policies in place that in the event that their products are being investigated, they will pull their products from shelves than allow officials to test them on animals.

On the other hand, some cruelty-free consumers aren’t comfortable with supporting any brand that chooses to put their products at risk of being tested on animals in China, since China’s regulations do not explicitly exclude the use of animals in post-market testing and it’s not 100% guaranteed.

Has China Banned Animal Testing in 2021?

Absolutely not. China has not banned animal testing for cosmetics, nor are they even close to calling a ban.

All of these changes we’re discussing is an effort to loosening the legal requirements of animal tests on some cosmetics, but not for all cosmetics sold in China.

Even though it may not be required for cosmetic companies to test on animals, it’s still not illegal if companies or suppliers choose to conduct animal tests in China.

Cruelty-Free Cosmetics in China: What Now?

Prior to these 2021 changes, there was a super simple rule that we went by, if a cosmetic brand imports and sells any of their cosmetics products in China, they had to test on animals and therefore, they could not be cruelty-free.

Now with the recent changes, it’s gotten a lot more complex.

I think it will no longer be a matter of asking brands if they sell in mainland China to determine if their products are cruelty-free or animal-tested.

I think we will have to evaluate each brand on a case-by-case basis. And the brands that are fully compliant and transparent with us will be reconsidered as being cruelty-free by our standards.

But we’ll just have to wait and see for further developments and if these new regulations in China will lead us to a cruelty-free world where no animals are harmed for the sake of beauty!

The post What’s Going On With China’s Animal Testing Laws in 2021 appeared first on ethical elephant.