Minas Gerais Becomes 7th Brazilian State to Ban Animal Testing

Brazil is one step closer to ban animal testing for cosmetic purposes after the state of Minas Gerais voted to end the practice in the region.

Minas Gerais joins Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, and Amazonas who have already banned the practice, meaning that 70 percent of the nation’s cosmetic companies are now established in states where animal testing is forbidden.

“We thank the assembly members who supported a prohibition on these cruel cosmetic tests on animals, putting the State of Minas Gerais at the vanguard of respect for animals, together with the other states that have prohibited these immoral tests,” said Adrian Araújo from the Movimento Minerio pelos Direitos Animais, an animal rights collective who support the cruelty-free bill.

“Brazil is one of the biggest cosmetics markets in the world,” added Cruelty Free International, an organization working to end animal testing worldwide. “This breakthrough is another huge success for animals that bring us one step closer to a global end to cruel animal testing for cosmetics.” 

A national bill to end most cosmetic testing across the country is currently passing through the Senate. “Our task now is to get the legislation through the Senate and to secure a yes from the president,” Cruelty Free International stated. “If you have family or friends in Brazil, please urge them to register on the Senate website where there is a public opinion poll on the bill.”

Cosmetic animal testing is falling out of favor around the world; nearly 40 countries have now banned the practice. In Canada, the Cruelty-Free Cosmetics act has just cleared the Senate, meaning it is halfway through the process of becoming law. The bill was introduced by Senator Carolyn Stewart Olson back in 2015 and will now move on to its next phase in Canada’s House of Commons.

“Already 37 countries – including the world’s largest beauty markets – have taken action to ban cruel cosmetics, and it’s high time Canada did the same,” said Troy Seidle, the vice president of research and toxicology for the Humane Society International.