Have you ever paid special attention to the “Cruelty-Free” or “Not Tested on Animals” labels when buying cosmetics? These slogans may seem well-intentioned, but are they really a brand’s commitment to animal-friendliness or just marketing jargon?
In fact, the EU banned the sale of cosmetics tested on animals as early as 2013. At first glance, the battle seems to have ended long ago, but the truth is not that simple.
Is the EU really cruelty-free?
Europe’s ban on animal testing for cosmetics has gone through 20 years of reform:
Animal testing on final products was banned in 2004 (ingredients can still be tested).
Animal testing of ingredients was banned in 2009.
In 2013, a complete ban on the sale of any cosmetics or ingredients tested on animals was introduced.
However, even with strict EU regulations, brands still emphasise “Cruelty-Free”. Is this redundant or necessary?
Why do brands still label themselves “cruelty-free”?
There are actually two reasons:
A brand that truly sticks to its philosophy
Brands like Lush have refused to use any ingredients tested on animals since their inception (1995), and even require suppliers to provide certification. They regard “Cruelty-Free” as the core value of the brand and take the initiative to express their position to consumers.
Animal testing has not really gone away
Despite the EU ban, there are many grey areas:
Chinese market: Some products in China still need to be tested on animals before they can be marketed.
REACH Regulation: The EU may still require animal testing for certain chemicals (especially for industrial use) to ensure worker safety.
International markets: Some brands may test their products in other countries (such as Russia) before exporting them to the EU.
In other words, even if a product is sold in Europe, the ingredients may have been tested on animals in other regions. Therefore, brands need to further emphasize “cruelty-free” and prove that they go beyond basic regulations and are truly animal-friendly.
Read also: Tried and Tested — As a beauty editor, these are the beauty products I swear by
How to confirm that a product is truly cruelty-free?
Anissa Putois, head of PETA France, suggests: Don’t just look at the slogan on the packaging, but look for “trusted certification”:
PETA Cruelty-Free Seal: Guarantees that the brand and its supply chain completely reject animal testing.
Leaping Bunny Certified: Endorsed by the International Cruelty Free Organization, ensuring that the products and ingredients have not been tested on animals.
PETA Beauty Without Bunnies list: Indicates whether a brand is also “vegan” (no animal ingredients).
We would like to remind everyone that labels such as “organic”, “natural” and “eco-friendly” have no direct connection with animal testing. Please look for professional certification marks when purchasing.
Current regulations in Taiwan
Since 2019, Taiwan has banned animal testing for safety assessments of cosmetics or ingredients in the country, unless the ingredient is widely used and its function cannot be replaced by other ingredients, or the evaluation data shows that the ingredient may harm human health and animal testing is required to confirm safety. Violators will not be allowed to sell their products and may be fined up to NT$150,000. However, current regulations do not clearly limit whether imported products have been tested on animals in other countries. Compared with the EU, Taiwan only controls domestic experimental behaviors and is more relaxed on imported products.
“Cruelty-free” is not a fake issue, but not all brands claiming to be Cruelty-Free are created equal. As global regulations and standards vary, consumers need to be more cautious when making choices and identify international certifications in order to truly support animal-friendly brands.
This story was originally published by Xie Xiaomi on the Marie Claire Taiwan website.
