Following pressure from cruelty-free consumers around the world, animal welfare organizations such as Humane Society International and Cruelty Free International, as well as some of the largest corporations on the planet, China has gradually relaxed their animal testing laws.
Since 2021, the prerequisite for pre-market animal testing has been lifted for most cosmetics being sold in the country. In addition to this, we've confirmed that the practice of post-market testing no longer uses animals to determine safety.
We're happy to announce that starting in 2023, Cruelty-Free Kitty's database will include select brands that are available for sale in China. The select brands added do not engage in any animal testing in mainland China, and their products are not tested on animals at any point during production and beyond.
Considering the size of China's beauty market, this news is tremendously exciting for animal rights activists and cruelty-free consumers alike. With the lifting of animal testing requirements, large beauty brands will no longer have to fund animal cruelty in order to enter the Chinese market. This is a major step towards a more ethical and compassionate beauty industry, and we hope to see more brands follow suit.
These Brands Are Now Cruelty-Free
Here's a full list of brands that were added to our cruelty-free list following this update:
- Herbal Essences
- Dove
- Wet n Wild
- Physicians Formula
- First Aid Beauty
- Supergoop!
- Rituals
- Aussie
- Simple
- Suave
The Latest on China's Animal Testing Laws
China has been gradually relaxing their animal testing laws in recent years. Starting June 30, 2014, companies were able to enter the Chinese market without testing their products on animals as long as (1) the products were manufactured locally and (2) the products did not consist of special use cosmetics. Special use cosmetics mainly include sunscreen, deodorant, hair dyes, and skin-lightening products. This means that most cosmetics manufactured in China have been exempt from animal testing since 2014.
Since May 1, 2021, China extended the possibility to bypass pre-market animal testing to products that were not domestically-manufactured. This means that it's currently possible for any beauty brand to sell their products in China without having them tested on animals as long as they are not considered to be special use cosmetics (sunscreen, deodorant, hair dyes, and so on).
Post-Market Animal Testing No Longer a Threat
Although the possibility of pre-market animal testing has been "lifted" for over a year, we did not immediately consider all brands sold in China to be cruelty-free due to the possibility of post-market animal testing.
Post-market animal testing consists of testing cosmetics on animals once they've already hit store shelves. Although these cosmetics were tested on animals before being deemed safe to sell, the Chinese government holds the right to remove any product from the shelves in order to have it re-tested. This can happen in case of a safety concern or a customer complaint.
At Cruelty-Free Kitty, we've been monitoring for changes to both pre-market and post-market laws in China for the past decade. In recent years, official documents show that not only were there non-animal testing methods approved for post-market testing, but animals are no longer being used in these tests. As of 2023, we're confident that post-market animal testing is no longer a threat for beauty brands in China.
Moving Toward a Cruelty-Free Beauty Industry
China's animal testing laws are the main obstacle when it comes to eliminating animal testing in the beauty industry today. With the changes to pre-market testing and with post-market animal testing no longer being a threat, companies can now enter the Chinese market without funding animal cruelty.
On behalf of all of us at Cruelty-Free Kitty, I want to sincerely thank you for choosing to shop cruelty-free. Together, we're making a true impact and working towards a kinder vision for the beauty industry. I hope that our updated database will make it easier for you to shop ethically and make informed purchasing decisions. If you ever have any questions about a brand's animal testing policy, please feel free to search our database for more information.
Which Brands Are Cruelty-Free?
Download our list of 600+ verified cruelty-free brands straight to your device. Bring it with you everywhere you go, and never worry about supporting animal testing again. Click here to download
Hello! That’s wonderful news indeed, but there is something bothering me… “as long as they are not considered to be special use cosmetics (sunscreen, deodorant, hair dyes, and so on)” means that dove still tests on animals right? Because they make deodorant which falls in the category of “special use”
Why is it “pressure from cruelty-free consumers around the world, animal welfare organizations such as Humane Society International and Cruelty Free International” that makes the Chinese authority change its mind? Would that be too condescending to think that every corner of the world has to revolve around the Western mainstream?
This is incredible news!! Thank you so much for sharing!
Hello firstly I would like to thank you for making this lovely website of all the brands we can use that are free from animal testing <3
With the animal testing not being required in China anymore, could we have an update regarding Korean products? I think some articles need updating, sometimes they say something is CF but then I check a more recent article and it says it is not anymore… but maybe I misunderstand.
UK lifting the ban in place since 1998!!!
With all going on in this world, why can’t this entity do something CONSTRUCTIVE with it’s time and power?????
Please reassess whether or not Demeter Fragrance is cruelty free. In an email they sent me back in 2016 they said they’re exempt from China testing laws and would not sell to China if they required it. Everything else on their website looks like they’re cruelty free. It would he helpful if you show emails from all brands where applicable.
Hi,
That is great news.
Does this mean that Issey Miyake fragrances can now be considered cruelty free too, including their new one ‘Drop fraiche’?
Thankyou
What about Neutrogena? I believe they did test on animals to sell in China?
Do we know if they have stopped testing on animals? Such a large company should not!!!
Wohoo! I’ve missed some of these brands. I also got a bottle of Dove body wash for Christmas and have been debating on exchanging it. Now I know I can use it guilt-free.
This is such good news! I have just recently become aware of this site, and was furious that my favorite sunscreen brand (Supergoop!) tested on animals. I have missed them. So, such good news to hear that they are not testing, even in China! Thank you so much for your research and advocacy.
Ok, so they don’t test but they still EAT ANYTHING WITH A HEARTBEAT!
OMG thank you so much for this! Is there any way of finding out which, of these newly listed brands, are also vegan? I would love to use Dove face and skin products, and Aussie hair care stuff. But I do need to be sure that they are vegan ( to my mind, even if not tested on animals, if they have animal products in them they cannot then be considered cruelty-free, even though that is the accepted definition today )
This is indeed wonderful news! I am so very grateful for all the amazing work your organization does on behalf of animals worldwide. I just pray that China doesn’t backtrack and begins to discontinue its cruel practices-like wet markets and trade in dog and cat meat.
Thank you again!!’
Thanks so much for increasing awareness about which beauty brands qualify as cruelty free. The pre-market/post-market animal testing in China is a little complex so I appreciate your explanation. Here’s looking forward to a completely cruelty free future!
So excited to read this and as i read through the brands now cruelty free i was sooooo hopeful that Benefit cosmetics would be listed. I’m sure the list will be updated (?)
Thank you for your research and hard work and keeping us informed.