BWI: Humane Society International/India Lauds Drug Controller General’s Direction to Eliminate Animal Tests for Cosmetics

Press release from Business Wire India
Source: Humane Society International
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 11:49 AM IST (06:19 AM GMT)
Editors: General: Economy, Lifestyle, People, Social issues; Business: Business services, Media & entertainment
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Humane Society International/India Lauds Drug Controller General's Direction to Eliminate Animal Tests for Cosmetics


New Delhi, Delhi, India, Tuesday, February 26, 2013 -- (Business Wire India) -- Humane Society International/India praises a direction given by the Drug Controller General of India to fast-track deletion of the final two animal tests from India's cosmetics safety standard. The directive was issued during an emergency meeting of the Bureau of Indian Standards' PCD19 Cosmetic Sectional Committee, to which HSI/India was a special invitee, and marks the beginning of the end of acute oral toxicity (lethal poisoning) and oral mucosal irritation animal testing for cosmetic purposes in India.

"Humane Society International/India applauds the foresight and compassion of Drug Controller General Dr. G.N. Singh's direction in this progressive move," said HSI India Be Cruelty-Free Campaign Manager Alokparna Sengupta. "It's unthinkable that in this day and age, animals are still choking on cosmetic chemicals in decades-old poisoning tests while companies choke on their own inertia in switching to a cruelty-free business model."

From now on, companies in India wishing to test cosmetic products or ingredients for these specific effects will have to submit a non-animal testing proposal to the DCGI for approval. Eventually, it is expected that the Indian cosmetic standard IS4011 will be amended to reflect the changes as directed by DCGI. The BIS has the responsibility of setting up safety standards for cosmetics by the Central Drug Standards Control Organisation, through the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1945.

HSI's Be Cruelty-Free campaign, the largest-ever global effort to end animal testing for cosmetics, has worked with various Legislative Assemblies and Members of Parliament in India who have written to the CDSCO and BIS in support, asking for an end to cosmetics testing on animals.

To show your support for an end to animal testing for cosmetics in India and around the world, sign a Be Cruelty-Free pledge today or just give a missed call to 080-4931-1223.

Humane Society International/India and its partner organizations together constitute one of the world's largest animal protection organizations. For more than 20 years, HSI has been working for the protection of all animals through the use of science, advocacy, education and hands on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty worldwide - on the Web at hsi.org.


CONTACT DETAILS
Alokparna Sengupta, Humane Society International, +91 9849094113, asengupta@hsi.org

KEYWORDS
ECONOMY, LIFESTYLE, PEOPLE, SOCIAL, BUSINESS SERVICES, MEDIA

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