Chile is officially a country free of cosmetic animal testing
Our country has taken a historic step forward in animal protection, leaving outdated practices behind and transforming the beauty industry nationwide forever.
The Be Cruelty Free campaign, which launched in Chile in 2017 and moved us all in 2021 with the stop-motion short film #SaveRalph, was a key driving force behind this change. Thanks to more than 300,000 signatures from the public, support from the cosmetics industry and lawmakers, and the tireless efforts of organizations such as Te Protejo and No Más Vivisección, Bill #13.966-11 became law.
See also: Is regulation compatible with cruelty-free certification?
What does the new law in Chile stipulate?
With the official enactment of Law No. 21,646, Chile amended the Public Health Code to establish ethical safeguards for the cosmetics market. This regulation, which is now fully in effect twelve months after its publication in early 2024, marks a turning point with the following rules:
The use of animals to test the safety and efficacy of cosmetics, hygiene products, and personal fragrances is prohibited.
This prohibition applies to both the finished product and each and every one of its ingredients, combinations of ingredients, or final formulations.
Manufacturers must use alternative testing methods that do not involve animals to demonstrate the safety of their products.
These ethical methods must be officially recognized by the Institute of Public Health (ISP) or by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Furthermore, the sale, marketing, importation, and introduction into the domestic market of cosmetic products whose ingredients or formulations have been tested on animals after the law took effect are prohibited.
Violations of this law and cosmetic testing on live animals are now punishable under the Penal Code.
The Power of Information in Your Hands
A vital aspect of this regulation is transparency toward those of us who purchase these products every day. The law stipulates that manufacturers may use the “cruelty-free” or “not tested on animals” label or logo on packaging or wrappers to inform consumers. The use of this label certifies that the cosmetic product, its ingredients, and final formulations have not been tested on animals. Of course, it is strictly prohibited to use these labels in a misleading manner if the manufacturer relied on animal testing to demonstrate safety after the law takes effect.
The Triumph of Public Empathy
According to a 2019 survey conducted by Inside Research and Te Protejo , 72% of Chileans already supported a ban on animal testing. Today, that majority sentiment is the law governing our country.
Added to this is the enormous number of beauty brands that have already joined the initiative globally, totaling more than 2,000 certified companies. Brands we see here in the country—such as Lush, Garnier, Dove, Natura, The Body Shop, Ballerina, and Petrizzio—show us every day that it is possible to produce safe products using modern, high-tech methods that are completely cruelty-free.
Thanks to every signature, every time you share Ralph, and every conscious purchasing decision, this change is now a reality, and together, we continue to build a more compassionate market. If you want to learn how this historic breakthrough came about and review all the details of the enactment, check out the article: Chile Bans Animal Testing for the Cosmetics Industry.
And to learn about current campaigns to ban cosmetic testing on animals in Latin America, visit ww.tambiensienten.org
