Korea has taken its first steps towards a cruelty-free cosmetics industry, with a ban on animal testing for finished cosmetics products.
The South Korean government announced this week their plans to end testing on animals for cosmetics. The news comes following two years of work between Cruelty Free International and South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The Ministry announced the ban earlier this week alongside its new ‘Five Year Plan for Animal Welfare’, which will follow the same phases that the EU underwent prior to its total ban on animal testing for cosmetics in 2013. The first phase includes a ban on the testing of finished products, followed by a ban on the testing of ingredients and finally, a ban on all animal testing for cosmetics.
Though the testing won’t end immediately, South Korea is following the same strategy used by the European Union. Back in 2004, the E.U. banned the testing of complete cosmetics on animals, followed by a ban on testing cosmetic ingredients on animals in 2008, and then a complete ban for all cosmetic testing on animals in 2013.
In addition to the E.U., South Korea also joins China, Brazil and India in their efforts to eradicate cosmetic testing on animals.
Michelle Thew, Chief Executive of Cruelty Free International, said: “We very much welcome this important breakthrough and we are grateful to the members of the National Assembly who helped us press the case. We will now be urging implementation as soon as possible so that the full ban can be achieved at the earliest possible date, bringing Korea into line with Europe and India. We hope to see this echoed in 2015 by other Asian countries where we are active. This is a great start to the New Year.”