Beforehand, since 2009 the sale and manufacture of cosmetic products in the European Union that have been tested on animals is totally prohibited. Four years later, the testing of toxic products was also banned, although there is an extension until the year 2023 for its full and final implementation.
What does it consist of and how does it affect animals?
Testing animals involves handling animals such as guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs, cats and even chickens, in most cases,making them try products and see the reaction they produce in them.
Some of the practices that are carried out are those of observing changes in the skin, the hair or seeing the functioning of the organs through practices that range from inhaling hair lacquers to forcibly introducing dentrifics into the stomach of the animals.
Differentiate whether a product is or is not tested on animals is as simple as checking the label of the product and see if it has the “cruelty free” or “not tested on animals” seal. This means that neither the final product nor any of its ingredients have been tested and we will be looking at a product that is respectful and compassionate to animals.
Yes to cruelty free
For all those who want to know what products are those that make tests on animals, there are also mobile applications that indicate whether or not they are cruelty free. Although some of these apps are paid, many others are free: Cruelty free, Bunny free, Choose cruelty or Happy bunny, among others.
Nowadays there are still many brands that test, but every time the trend towards makeup and natural cosmetics increases, which makes us tremendously happy, since from Atlantia we advocate the purity and naturalness of the products, without testing in animals and also without parabens.
Is it testing strictly necessary?
Definitely not, since there are many other alternative methods to animal testing. An example of this is to do it through the creation of artificial tissues of cultured human cells and bacterial systems or computer simulations, among many other options.
Nowadays there are companies dedicated to the search for alternatives that do not involve tests on animals, but this requires a particular investment to achieve the objective. On the other hand, it is also necessary that the analyses of these “fictitious” experiments be 100% reliable and demonstrable so that they can be applied to the products without harming the public health.
