India bans testing of animals for cosmetic products

New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) India Friday banned testing for cosmetic products and their ingredients on animals.

"Effective today (Friday), the animal testing for cosmetic products and ingredients is outlawed throughout India. This is a huge victory for animals in laboratories," said Alokparna Sengupta, Humane Society International's Be Cruelty-Free India campaign manager.

The test ban was finalised through the gazette notification of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules (Second Amendment), 2014, following completion of a 45-day public consultation period.

"India has now taken a step forward in ethical consumerism and with the notification, will lead the world towards it too," added Sengupta.

With this ban, India joins a list of countries like Brazil, Australia and New Zealand.