Animal protection organizations and the cosmetics industry applaud the tabling of this landmark legislation.

Canada is planning to impose a ban on cosmetic testing on animals — a long-awaited move widely welcomed by wildlife protection advocates and other industry stakeholders who have been calling for an end to the “cruel” practice.

In the 2023 budget, the Liberal government announced they plan to amend the Food and Drugs Act to prohibit the testing of cosmetics on animals in the country.

As of April 19, the Canadian government has published, in its Notice of Ways and Means Motion, the contents of the pending Budget Implementation Act, including measures that will prohibit testing cosmetics on animals in Canada. The measures under the proposed legislation will also prohibit selling cosmetics that rely on new animal testing data to establish the products’ safety, with some exceptions.

In addition, the government is looking to clamp down on false or misleading labelling pertaining to the testing of cosmetics on animals.

Animal protection advocates Humane Society International/Canada, Animal Alliance Canada and Cruelty-Free International, along with Cosmetics Alliance Canada, Lush Cosmetics and The Body Shop, have long called for a complete ban on such testing and to move toward non-animal alternatives. These companies have been working closely with the Canadian government for several years to advance the legislation.

“Canada’s commitment in the budget to ban cosmetic testing was critical because it is not required. It is unnecessary. It is cruel and painful. It causes suffering and death in animals and all for beauty products,” said Barbara Cartwright, CEO of Humane Canada, in an interview with Global News.

“This is something that should have happened a long time ago,” she added.

In a joint statement, Humane Society International/Canada, Animal Alliance Canada and Cruelty-Free International, along with Cosmetics Alliance Canada, Lush Cosmetics and The Body Shop, called it a “landmark opportunity” for Canada.

Under Canada’s Food and Drugs Act, cosmetic testing on animals is not required, but there is also no provision explicitly banning it. There are dozens of non-animal tests that are available, in use and many more in development.

This planned ban will not impact the cosmetic industry in Canada. The non-animal methods will be up for discussion at the upcoming 2023 World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences being hosted by Canada in Niagara Falls, Ont., in August.