Millions of innocent animals have suffered their entire lives as tests subjected to numerous chemicals injected into their bodies, shoved down their throats, and fervently rubbed into their open wounds. Unfortunately, many of these creatures have to suffer at the expense of developing better cosmetics to satisfy our vanity. Various animal rights groups, such as the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments, have fought for over 20 years to help abolish animal cruelty[1]. Their work has finally come to fruition on March 11, 2013 when the European Union officially placed a permanent ban on allowing tests to be run on animals.

Though animal lovers around the world rejoiced at the news, many others evaluated the situation with distaste. This legislation has especially affected cosmetic firms, many of which believe that the European market will fall behind in the years to come. According to the Associated Press, Cosmetics Europe argued that, “the European Union is jeopardizing the industry’s ability to innovate.”[2] After the ban, L’Oreal, a renowned company in cosmetics, debunked claims of using animals by stating that they have chosen to invest into more ethical alternatives; however, they also discretely stated that “[a]n exception could only be made if regulatory authorities demanded [to test] for safety or regulatory purposes.” As a matter of fact, China, a leading, front-runner in the global market of cosmetics have laws that–shockingly–dictate companies to undergo certain tests before the products are to be released to the general public. In a 2013 report, PETA (People of Ethical Treatment of Animals) revealed that China has regulated companies to have their products tested on a staggering number of 300,000 animals[3].

Despite their animal cruelty-free claims, L’Oreal was evidently one of the many cosmetic companies who were drawn to China’s $32 billion and growing market. I speculate that some companies chose to introduce their products as cruelty-free to win over the public’s favors, but would not hesitate to act on their own interests to exploit and profit from the well-being of other living beings. However, as much as I don’t tolerate inhumane treatments on animals for cosmetics, I’m also conflicted on whether or not completely banning tests on animals was the right course of action for the EU government to partake. Many ground-breaking research in the fields of cancer and diseases have been discovered through testing on animals. Then again, we humans have often only come to know the luxuries that we have created to satisfy ourselves. Regardless of how much we ardently defend our intentions and moral compass, we often forget to consider that the life we’ve created for many animals is nothing short of pure, terrorizing agony.

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