India government considering ban on animal testing for cosmetics

The Indian government is considering introducing a ban on the testing of cosmetic products on animals, following a proposal by the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

The government sent a representative from its Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to talk with a representative of PETA, reported newspaper the Times of India.

The talks were held by PETA science policy advisor Chaitanaya Koduri, Guru S Nair of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee with CDSCO deputy drug controller S Manivannan to try and move the Indian companies to ban cosmetics testing on animals.

According to a statement, Manivannan had showed willingness to consider a proposal regarding a ban by the ministry.

PETA’s call for an end to the usage of animals to test cosmetics has already gained endorsement from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said the newspaper.

Koduri said testing of cosmetics on animals is old-fashioned, which leads to unnecessary killing of animals and does not help in protecting consumers.

According to the PETA, more than 1,000 companies globally have banned all animal tests, but many still opt to subject animals to painful tests in which substances are smeared on their skin, sprayed in their faces or forced down their throats.

Koduri is also seeking a meeting with health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on the issue.

According to PETA, the vast physiological differences between humans and the animals used in these tests leads to misleading results often.