By Georgia Moselen-Sloog
Animal rights advocates say New Zealand's lack of a ban on animal-testing shows that we are "lagging behind the times".
There is no animal testing for cosmetics currently licensed in New Zealand, but campaigners say a lack of a legal ban equals a lack of prevention. It also means products tested on animals overseas are legally sold throughout the country.
"Right now the legislation is very weak, and companies could come in and start testing their products on animals because it's not explicitly banned," SAFE Campaign Manager Mandy Carter says.
Testing cosmetics on animals was banned throughout Europe in 2009, and a ban on the sale of newly animal-tested products came into force in March. Similar bans are in force in Israel, and were finalised in India last month.
SAFE is calling on the Government to follow this lead and ban both animal testing and the sale of animal-tested products.
"We think this issue is really gaining momentum, and we really need to get involved and ban it as well," Miss Carter says.
SAFE wants the public to tell the Prime Minister they want animal-testing banned by signing a pledge and joining the international Be Cruelty Free campaign on its website.
Australian consumer watchdog Choice found earlier this year that companies such as MAC, Maybelline, Revlon, Clinique and L'Oreal routinely test their products on animals.
SAFE has also published the SAFE Shopper guide, to show New Zealanders which cosmetics are not tested on animals.
"It's actually really easy to be cruelty-free if you know what to look out for," Miss Carter says.
Miss Carter urges consumers to rebuild their make-up kits in compliance with the guide.
"Ditch your old animal-tested beauty products and start again," she says.
Today marks the start of SAFE's Cruelty Free Week, to be topped off this Friday by the make-up-free Bare Your Face Day. New Zealanders are being challenged to go without make-up for one day this week, in support of a proposed ban on animal-tested cosmetics.
Angela Bloomfield, Suzanne Paul and Ruby Higgins front the campaign, which Mrs Bloomfield describes as "a fun way to get across a serious message".
3 News
source: newshub archive
