PETA demands ban on cosmetic testing on animals

NEW DELHI: An animal rights group on Wednesday asked the government to follow the decision of European countries of putting an end to any cosmetic testing on animals.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Wednesday staged a demonstration here and demanded that the government ban cosmetic testing, the test conducted on animals to find out the possible hazardous impact of cosmetic items on human beings.

"European countries have decided to ban completely cosmetic test on animals because it is a cruelty on animals. Indian government is yet to take decision on it. We urge the government to ban such tests," Dharmesh Solanki, Vivisection Coordinator of PETA, said.

He said all the cosmetic items available in the market undergo tests on animals. Those animals, after the tests, die or are killed, he claimed.

"There are alternative way for testing skin corrosion, which can be conducted to ensure that the items are safe for use by human beings," he said.

As youngsters are the major user for such items, PETA appealed them not use cosmetics tested on animals.

"On the eve of Valentine Day, we appeal to them not to use these products," he said.

Moreover, the items that pass the tests on animals are not necessarily safe for use by human beings, he claimed.

PETA had written a letter in this regard to the government. "But the government is yet to reply. We will conduct a similar demonstration to pressurise the government to ban cosmetic testing on animals," he said.