It would seem safer to buy European brands since the March 2013 EU Official ban on animal testing, however the ban has yet to reach countries worldwide and it is still conducted in countries such as China. Some European named brands may continue to have their products tested in such countries. According to the 'People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' website (this post), we must remain questionable of a majority of companies which "conceal the whole truth from customers".Japan, it being in Asia where the ban has been trending but not fully enforced, appears to have a few laws, but nothing is completely defined when it comes to animal testing. It proved difficult to find a solid source, at least on the web, stating that animal testing is illegal (one source here). According to information found at the PETA site, big Japanese brand 'Shiseido' eliminated animal testing quite recently; alas note the use of the word "mostly". Therefore, unless the company boldly proclaims it, detailed background research is needed to find cruelty free Japanese cosmetics.
I also researched into Korean brands that are popular here, such as 'ETUDE HOUSE'. Though "customer services claim that they don't test on animals, their head offices were unable to confirm further". Their uncertain response has made me certain that I won't be buying their products again, also as I hear that Korean beauty products sold in Japan are untrustworthy. Korean brands that have the "not animal tested" stamp do exist, as stated on this website.
As a result, the only real way to be certain that such products are not tested on animals is if the company website or leaflet clearly states so, instead of hiding it away in small print or going about the way of saying that they supposedly don't.
In my opinion, cruelty free products, in terms of animals, should state:
- they have never tested their products on animals and do not plan to do so
- they use organic, natural ingredients that do not contain any substance of animals in a way that may harm them
The companies in Japan that I have found to best fit the above are;
The wonderful thing is that two of those companies are British!
The search continues, nonetheless, for more cruelty free products, with the hopes that more big brand names will reconsider their ethics.
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