The China Food and Drug Administration (FDA) no longer requires animal testing on “ordinary” cosmetics, which include shampoos and some skin-care products. Instead, manufacturers may conduct tests on tissue culture or use known information on ingredients to determine product safety. However, the government specified that provincial regulators of food and drugs must test new products to follow up on manufacturers’ toxicology filings. Thus, some companies may continue to perform animal tests due to a lack of resources for in vitro testing. In 1990, the China FDA mandated animal testing of “special-use” products, extending the requirement to ordinary cosmetics in 2012. The new rule does not apply to special-use products, such as sunblocks or hair dyes, or to imported products. Cosmetics imports to China in 2013 totaled $1.7 billion, an increase of 10.7%. Observers indicated that the policy change might not prompt substantial short-term change.

Source: The New York Times