The Body Shop welcomes the news reports that The Chinese Food and Drug Administration will adopt a new approach to animal testing for cosmetic products. 

The Body Shop welcomes the signals that the Chinese authorities are adopting a new approach to testing for cosmetics for domestically manufactured ordinary products (such as shampoo, skincare or perfume).

Welcoming these reports, The Body Shop’s CEO and Chairman Jeremy Schwartz comments, “As the first beauty company to take action against animal testing for cosmetics, these reports mark a truly historic moment. We congratulate the Chinese authorities for this important decision.”

The Body Shop was the first and most long-standing cosmetics company to take action on the issue of animal testing for cosmetic purposes. It started its campaign in 1989 and was the first major voice on the subject. All The Body Shop products are both vegetarian and none are tested on animals. This principal was established in 1989. The Body Shop was the first international cosmetics company to be certified under the Humane Cosmetics Standard.

In 1996 The Body Shop founder Dame Anita Roddick joined Cruelty Free International’s founding organisation the BUAV, and its European partners, in presenting a petition of 4 million signatures to the European Commission.

Today, The Body Shop continues to support its founding message that animal testing should be banned and also supports Cruelty Free International’s call for a global end to animal testing for cosmetics.

In March 2013, The Body Shop celebrated the EU Ban which ended the import and sale of animal testing across the region. In October 2013, The Body Shop presented Cruelty Free International with over 1 million signatures from customers across the world supporting the introduction of a global ban.

The Body Shop will continue to campaign to stop the testing of cosmetics in all countries around the world.