By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
LA TROBE MP Jason Wood has introduced a private members’ bill to the House of Representatives to ban the practice of cosmetic testing on animals.
Not only would Mr Wood’s bill ban the testing of cosmetics in Australia but would also “phase out the unnecessary developing, manufacturing, selling, advertising or importing into Australia of cosmetics, or ingredients in cosmetics, which have been tested on live animals”.
Mr Wood introduced his bill on Monday 14 September with an impassioned speech about the cruelty inherent in testing cosmetics on animals.
“Cosmetic testing on animals is wrong, it is barbaric, it is cruel and it is no longer necessary,” Mr Wood said during his speech.
“Testing the ingredients of cosmetics like mascara and shampoo on living creatures is a completely unnecessary cruelty and it is time Australia joined the growing number of countries around the world which have banned this practice.”
Mr Wood also quoted results from polls conducted by Nexus Research and Roy Morgan Research that show 85 per cent of Australians oppose using animals in the development of cosmetics.
The survey also revealed that the ‘not tested on animals’ label is one of the top three features that Australian consumers look for when buying cosmetics.
The motion was supported by Steve Irons MP, Kelvin Thompson MP, Melissa Parke MP, and Adam Bandt MP.
RSPCA Victoria states that while there is no direct testing of cosmetics involving animals conducted in Australia, the majority of cosmetic products sold here contain ingredients that will have been tested on animals at some time.
Mr Wood said in his speech that Australia should join other countries around the world that have phased out and banned testing cosmetics on animals.
Countries that have a ban on cosmetic animal testing include the 28 member states of the European Union who were the world’s first set of countries to ban cosmetics tested on animals in 2009.
Along with the EU in already having banned animal testing for cosmetics are Norway, India and Israel.
