Toronto/Ottawa: The Canadian government has banned the testing of cosmetics on animals.

"Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, announced that the Government of Canada has banned the cruel and unnecessary testing of cosmetic products on animals in Canada, representing a major step forward in supporting animal welfare by reducing our reliance on animal testing, while ensuring health and safety," read a statement issued by the Canadian government.

With the passing of Bill C-47, Budget Implementation Act, 2023, No. 1, the Food and Drugs Act (FDA) has been amended to ban cosmetic animal testing. The new legislative changes mean that in Canada, companies will no longer be allowed to test cosmetic products on animals or sell their cosmetics that rely on animal testing data to establish safety.

The practice of testing cosmetics on animals has significantly decreased worldwide and was rarely conducted in Canada.

By implementing these changes, Canada is aligning with the global shift toward ethical cosmetic testing by joining other countries, including all European Union countries, Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Korea, that have already taken measures to prohibit cosmetic animal testing.

Beyond cosmetics, Health Canada is working with the international scientific and regulatory community to develop, validate and implement effective alternatives to animal testing.

This includes providing continued leadership and contributions to the work of various committees and organizations, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Cooperation on Alternative Test Methods (ICATM).