The Bite Magazine - Spring 2019 - Issue 24

bite beauty metics was banned in the UK in 1998 and then across the EU in 2013 (the legislation is part of EU Regulation 1223/2009), because new safe methods of non-testing on animals were discovered and developed. Israel, India and Finland have also banned animal testing in cosmetics, while Australia, New Zealand and USA are still considering this procedure. I believe there is still a little bit of confusion, and misleading information regarding who is truly cruelty-free and who is not. In fact, many brands, declaring the ‘cruelty free’ vision could still be using, or have suppliers that use some of those compounds or raw materials tested on animals. There are also cases where some brands, whose products are made following cruelty-free guidelines, but are operating under a mother company that does not follow these principles, and therefore in my opinion, it does not make them totally ‘cruelty free’. It is very difficult to establish or identify some of those com- pounds with absolute precision. In many cases they are not properly recorded or declared, especially if they are imported from countries that do not follow the same legislations and ethics procedures. In recent years, after growing concerns in a more modern consumer conscience, there have been successful changes in beauty laws and regulations. There are brands that have a misleading context, where they declare to be against animal cruelty, but in fact they are still selling their products in mainland countries where animal testing is legal and all imported cosmetics products must be tested for selling, such as mainland China. Considering the incredible amount of beauty products and compounds manufactured there and sold to beauty brands worldwide, it does make me wonder. The best way for me to make sure I buy the appropriate controlled products, is to purchase from those clearly specifying their policy and vision. There are many organisations creating huge platforms of information, events, actions and videos where purchasers can understand how deep and vast this subject really is. There are also a variety of cosmetic listings available where it is possible to identify each brand’s vision, such as those with a free-from certified accreditation, or vegan brands, which means their products are free-from animal depriving ingredi- ents, such as fatty acids or beeswax, non-vegan brands contain- ing animal deriving ingredients but is not testing on animals, and brands that are not testing on animals but are part of major corporate companies that sell in China and so on. There is also a list of brands that have no accreditation but follow the free animal cruelty philosophy. Personal Vision My personal quest, firstly, is to help end animal cruelty and also to spread the word around for a cleaner cosmetics industry, encouraging botanical ingredients and eliminat- ing chemicals and synthetic ingredients such as sulphates, parabens and such like. Secondly, to establish the quality and results achieved by using products and brands that are ‘cruelty free’ and ‘free-from’.