How to know if a product is tested on animals
In the laboratories of many companies that distribute cosmetics, food, medicines and other materials, tests are carried out to prove their safety and to improve them. The great problem of this practice is that not only are tests carried out with volunteers in innocuous experiments, such as testing the different flavors of chewing gum, but also in order to demonstrate that a product will not harm health or cause other problems, with tests that are not usually innocuous, animals are used. As has already been demonstrated in countless reports and documentaries, animals are subjected to tests in which they suffer damage, which is why they are known as animal cruelty tests. cosmetic testing on animals articles
Interesting: 10 strange animals that you may not know
As these animals cannot decide whether to participate in this process and are abused, there is increasing awareness worldwide and people are looking for alternatives.
How is testing done on animals cosmetic testing on animals articles
How cosmetics and medicines are tested or any product sold? There are some that must be tested by law, since they are directly related to public health , while others are tested simply to improve them.
Although there are products that are tested directly by volunteers, for example to improve the taste of certain food such as bagged potatoes or chewing gum that are harmless tests, most products are tested on animals . They are mainly tested on animals that are easy to handle, such as guinea pigs or guinea pigs, dogs, cats, chickens or rabbits, as well as those that are also very similar to humans, such as pigs and monkeys.
The tests on these animals are carried out in laboratories and the different reactions are observed in the skin, in the hair, in the functioning of the organs, in the behavior, etc., when the chemicals or products to be tested are applied directly in the skin, in drops in the eyes or ears or intravenously or intramuscularly, among many other forms of experimentation. cosmetic testing on animals articles animal tested products
Many people consider that the tests related to ensuring the health of people and other animals can be understood, but that those related to improvements, especially aesthetics or flavors, are not understandable because they escape the ethical, while there are those who consider that Any such practice cannot be justified in any way, even for health reasons.
The problems of this practice are many, especially at the ethical and moral level. For example, according to the latest surveys carried out by the EU, around the world there are some 15 million animals a year that undergo cruel tests to demonstrate the safety of cosmetic products . These figures are only for the cosmetic industry, so we should add pharmaceuticals, food, and so on. cosmetic testing on animals articles animal tested products
The truth is that due to the controversy of this issue, since for years this practice has been recognized as animal abuse and this is an issue that has increased in importance for society thanks to the awareness that has been acquired, the EU began to ban this practice in the cosmetics industry. In 2009, the law was introduced that made it illegal to experiment with cosmetics on animals throughout the European Union or the sale or import of cosmetic ingredients that have been tested on animals. Later, in 2013, products that had to be tested for possible toxicity were included.
However, for it to be properly implemented, there is a 10-year extension until all the necessary changes can be made in the companies, during which tests of this type can continue to be carried out. In addition, brands that demonstrate that they cannot have another reliable system that guarantees the health of the public will be able to continue carrying out these tests. Therefore, although the EU is working on this issue, there is still much to do and more still at the global level. cosmetic testing on animals articles animal tested products
Fortunately, ordinary citizens can do our part to help reduce these practices around the world. In addition to collaborating with various associations and platforms that are fighting to achieve this, we can identify the brands that carry out these tests and avoid consuming them, opting for products marked as cruelty free , which indicates that they are free of cruelty to animals.
How to know if a product has been tested on animals or not
Knowing which products are tested on animals and which ones will not help you to carry out more daily gestures to respect the lives of animals. The most reliable way to know if a product is tested on animals or not is to identify those that are surely not. Specifically, different governments around the world offer guarantees on certain products, granting them a seal of cruelty free. These logos or stamps change by country and of course there are places where they don’t exist yet. cosmetic testing on animals articles
Thus, a product that is cruelty-free or not tested on animals can be identified because on the packaging, either underneath, behind or on the side, there is a “not tested on animals” logo or symbol . This seal can be like the ones in the image below or similar, but not only those that indicate ” cruelty free ” or ” not tested in animals ” are free from these practices, since also products with a vegan seal are free of cruelty to the animals throughout their manufacturing process, until they reach the user.
On the other hand, the products that do not carry these symbols , mostly but it is clear that not all, have been manufactured with experimentation on animals as part of their process or, at least, some of their materials or ingredients have had this type of tests in its manufacture. So, if you see a product without a seal of one of these types, you may suspect its relationship with this type of experimentation. Although, it must be borne in mind that it is not 100% safe, because in some countries governments grant these symbols to brands that comply with the rules but also pay extra fees for receiving them and some companies choose not to pay them and, therefore , don’t get them. cosmetic testing on animals articles animal tested products
Currently, we are fortunate to also have applications for smartphones, both iOS and Android, that tell us which products are cruelty free or free of animal cruelty, so that we can choose those products that do not test on animals, either in purchases. online as in physical stores. You can try them and see which one suits you best, but keep in mind that some of these apps are free, at least in some countries, while others are paid.
The best apps for products not tested on animals cosmetic testing on animals articles
- Cruelty cutter (free).
- Bunny free (free).
- Choose crulety free.
- Cruelty-free.
- Happy Bunny: Shop Cruelty-free.
- SAFEshopper Cruelty-free NZ.
All of them have different systems to detect products of this type, since you can search by brands, by product categories, scan the barcode, and so on.
Which brands experiment with animals and which ones don’t
As it is really more reliable to identify the brands and companies that do not perform these tests on animals, the non-profit association Anima Naturalis has created lists of products NOT tested on animals in Spain and Mexico that will help you to know the brands in which you can trust in this regard.
