It follows the news that the Bureau of Indian Standards (BSI) is revising standard IS 4011, which could result in India moving towards a full ban on the use of animals for testing cosmetic products, and new legislation announced in Israel, which bans the import and sale of any cosmetics which have been tested on animals.
Following a meeting between Dr G N Singh who is the Drug Controller General of India and Indian MP Maneka Gandhi from People for Animals, Dr Singh said, "If other countries don't allow it, we will also ban animal testing of cosmetics."
India aligned
A ban on the importing of animal-tested cosmetics into the European Union will come into force in March, so any Indian companies wishing to sell cosmetics in the EU will be unable to test them on animals.
New Indian regulations for the registering of cosmetics products are due to come into force in April, which presents an opportunity to include the ban.
"We welcome this encouraging news,” says Michelle Thew, chief executive of the BUAV and Cruelty Free International.
“Cruelty Free International will continue to work with Maneka Gandhi and People for Animals to ensure that India can join Europe in banning cosmetics testing on animals as soon as possible."
New legislation
The European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE), another BUAV partner, has also welcomed the new legislation in Israel, which bans the import and sale of any cosmetics, personal care or household products which have been tested on animals.
However, this new law will only come into full effect when the EU marketing ban is implemented.
The ECEAE, along with its colleagues in the BUAV, has led the campaign across Europe to end the import and sale of animal tested cosmetics.
It has urged that there be no postponement or exceptions added to the 2013 marketing ban deadline, taking its message out to politicians, the public and industry in an attempt to gather widespread support.