A very big thanks to everyone who wrote the Senate Committee Social Affairs, Science and Technology Committee to make sure that Bill S-214 was placed on the agenda. Your e-mails were critical to the Bill being scheduled and hence the victory. The hearings started on September 28 and finished yesterday.
The Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act, sponsored by Senator Carolyn Stewart Olsen and supported by Animal Alliance of Canada and Humane Society International, unanimously passed the Committee with a small amendment that will allow a phase-in period for the industry to comply. The Bill will now be sent back to Senate Chamber for Third Reading and, if it passes, it will proceed to the House of Commons.
“Animal Alliance and HSI commissioned a poll which showed that 81 percent of Canadians support a national ban on cosmetic animal testing,” said Liz White, director, Animal Alliance of Canada. “Today’s decision was an important step forward in respecting Canadian opinion and bringing our industry standards into line with those of other developed nations.”
Troy Seidle, HSI’s senior director of research and toxicology stated, “Cosmetic testing on animals is an outdated, needless practice with no place in a modern and progressive society. It is for that reason that 37 countries – including the world’s largest cosmetics markets – have taken action to ban or restrict their trade in cosmetics tested on animals. Yet here in Canada, it remains perfectly legal for cosmetic chemicals to be dripped into rabbits’ eyes and spread on their delicate skin, all for the sake of a new lipstick and skin cream. We are calling on the Canadian Senate to pass S-214 and for the House of Commons to move quickly to adopt this lifesaving legislation.”
