Wet N Wild Not Cruelty free?

Okay SO, this is actually the post I wrote to go with a video a while back.  The one about the changing animal testing laws in China.  Based on the research I did, which you will see some of below, Wet N Wild IS still cruelty free.  In 2015 China removed the requirement from products that were MADE in China.  This includes Wet N Wild.  Please read more below.

More Big news in the Cruelty Free World!

Following the announcement from Covergirl late last year that they are now certified Cruelty Free, we have more and more good news for Cruelty Free Beauty Babes!

Earlier this month, the California state assembly voted unanimously to ban the sale of all cosmetics tested on animals. Bill SS-1249 will take effect on January 1, 2020, as long as it gets the final signature from Governor Jerry Brown. Supporters are optimistic, stating that "Brown's record in office shows him historically supporting animal-welfare issues, so the bill's proponents are optimistic that it will pass."

This is the first major step by any state to take a stance on animal testing.  California has recently passed a number of bills for animal welfare and environmental concerns.  Like banning the sale of single use plastic straws earlier this year and making consumers pay for plastic bags at stores. 

While this is a huge step politically, it will only affect California.  A large state with a population of nearly 40 million potential consumers, when compared to the world market, might be just a drop in the bucket for cosmetics companies.  Change like this needs to be supported by consumers.  In order for mass change to take place we have to hit them where it hurts, the wallet. 

Globally, many countries have already banned animal testing; this includes all 28 member states of the EU, Norway, Israel and India, New Zealand and Taiwan. With many countries currently reviewing their animal testing laws, we could start to see a massive shift in the industry making cruelty free the new normal. 

With so many nations joining the cruelty free cosmetics movement it seems to be just a matter of time before we have an entirely cruelty free beauty industry.  One of the biggest issues facing brands and manufacturers has been that legal requirement for all cosmetics sold in Mainland China to be tested on animals.  Based on my research this is the only country that requires animal testing.  With many countries falling under the same umbrella as the current US stance which does not require it, but also does not ban it, leaving the choice up to individual companies to decide if they want to participate. 

What that means right now is, if they want to sell in China, they have to participate in animal testing. The beauty industry in Asia is huge, and with China's immense population of around 1.4 BILLION people, that’s a hard market to ignore.  That’s why companies like MAC have gone in the opposite direction in the past.  Starting off cruelty free, but then as they grow into a global market, having to include this outdated practice.

An interesting facet, is that animal testing is only required on imported ordinary cosmetics, and on all special use cosmetics.  Ordinary cosmetics are considered things like makeup, fragrances and such with special use cosmetics making a claim like sunscreen, or dandruff control.  Additionally this is only for MAINLAND China.  Cosmetics Sold in Hong Kong only, and not the rest of China, do not require these tests. 

I had to ask, why.  Why does China insist on animal testing for its cosmetics? I wasn’t able to find a definitive answer.  Some places claim a health concerns, others just that they never bothered to change from the old ways when animal testing was the norm, and still others sited that it was a commitment to make sure products were not “sub-par” and to avoid rampant fakes that could contain any number of things from rat poison to animal feces.  Whatever the reason may be, the practice is outdated and unnecessary in 2019.

This all come to some good news.  Just this week (at the time I am writing this) China announced a move away from that requirement.  New testing methods are available to replace animal testing and get similar results.  Cruelty Free international is working closely with the Chinese government to implement these new tests in place of animal testing. 

While this is a small step right now, it is a step in the right direction, and big changes are happening, even if they are happening slowly.  After all, the policy allowing domestic cosmetics to forego animal testing was only put in place in 2015. From a long history of very strict animal testing requirements, to no animal testing requirements in Hong Kong, and no domestic animal testing requirements for all of China on ordinary cosmetics in just 4 years is huge progress.  Now, moving away from animal testing all together by using new testing methods is a lot of change, and progress is happening in the right direction. 

Of course I want a global ban on animal testing for cosmetics, and I want it now!  In the age of instant gratification it’s hard to see progress going so slowly.  For now I will continue to spend my beauty dollars on companies and brands that are ethical and don’t participate in any animal testing.  Maybe someday I will be able to use MAC and NARS, but for now I have a huge variety of ethical brands to choose from, over 600 certified, and that is more than enough for this makeup lover.