經過台灣防止虐待動物協會(Taiwan SPCA)與國際人道協會(HSI)自2014年起在台灣推動「讓美麗遠離殘酷」運動〈以結束化妝品動物實驗為目標〉，最新全台民調顯示，近七成民眾支持台灣修法禁止化妝品動物實驗，立法委員 王育敏與台灣防止虐待動物協會提出相關草案，並於今(17)日在立法院召開記者會與台北市愛兔協會可愛的兔子們一同呼籲我國應盡快通過修法，加入零殘酷行列。
記者會現場揭露了化妝品產業背後，醜陋的動物實驗真相，例如眼睛刺激性測試會在白兔眼睛塗上化學物質，以觀察其眼睛是否有發紅、流血、潰爛甚至失明的情形，而且在實驗過程中並不會使用麻醉藥。但因為實驗動物和人體構造及物種的不同，因此這樣讓動物遭受極大痛苦而換取的動物實驗結果，可能跟最後使用在人體身上的反應很不一樣！
立法委員 王育敏指出，全球最大化妝品市場歐盟自2009年開始，全面禁止化妝品動物實驗，2013年起則禁止在歐盟販賣有經動物實驗的化妝品；而繼歐盟、以色列及印度後，紐西蘭也於近日通過化妝品動物實驗禁令的法律。為了爭取動物福利，符合國際潮流，王育敏已提案修正《化粧品衛生管理條例》，禁止化妝品以動物實驗作測試，也禁止販賣有動物實驗的化妝品，並給予業者一至三年的緩衝期，盼能從停止化妝品實驗開始，擴大動物權益保障。
台灣防止虐待動物協會法律部門專員劉子瑜指出，雖然台灣並未強制化妝品須進行動物實驗，但在還未有法律明文禁止前，仍無法避免發生化妝品進行動物實驗之可能性，而衛福部日前修正之「申請含藥化妝品含新化合物成分應檢附之技術性基本資料表」中，雖公告化妝品安全性試驗應以非動物替代試驗方法為優先，但公告效力仍然有限，與歐盟、以色列及印度之法律禁令強度上更有大幅差距，即使沒有替代試驗方法，因為已有全世界數千種正在使用的安全性化妝品原料，台灣仍然可以通過修法禁止化妝品動物實驗以及販賣經動物實驗的化妝品，而不需要進行動物實驗也可以有很棒的化妝產品可使用。
劉子瑜強調，國際市場研究報告指出全世界化妝品市場產值將於2017年成長至2,650億美金，而全球都正朝向禁止化妝品動物實驗的方向前進，國內許多化妝品公司都曾表示並未做過動物實驗，若有了國家禁令的制定，不僅能提升國內化妝品業者在國際化妝品市場的競爭力，利於出口至歐盟、印度等國家，國內消費者也可以使用到更安全、人道的化妝品。因此法案應該盡快通過，幫助國內化妝品業者在國際化妝品競爭市場搶奪先機，讓台灣民眾能夠更安心購買化妝品，而無須擔心自己無意的行為卻助長了動物的虐待！
台北市愛兔協會表示，兔子是充滿好奇心、而且需要陪伴的動物，牠們的眼睛和皮膚都很脆弱，但牠們的溫馴及柔弱卻也讓自己成為了化妝品動物實驗最常拿來使用的對象之一，實驗時兔子會被固定在箱子裡，只有頭部外露，飽受肉體和精神折磨卻無法掙脫，持續關在籠子裡的兔子也常會出現不斷踱步、啃咬鐵欄等問題，化妝品是人類拿來增添外表美麗的物品，不應該拿無辜兔子的痛苦甚至死亡來換取！記者會現場台北市愛兔協會也帶領了可愛的兔子們，一同出席為同伴聲援，希望台灣可以成為保護兔子免於化妝品殘酷試驗的下一個國家。
台灣防止虐待動物協會自2014年起與國際人道協會在台灣推動全球性禁止化妝品動物實驗的「讓美麗遠離殘酷」運動，持續號召民眾參與連署支持修法禁止化妝品動物實驗，獲得23家廠商聯名支持修法，除了與立法委員 王育敏提出修法草案(目前已獲得19位立法委員支持)，也將持續以各種方式提升大眾意識，根據4月最新民調顯示，我國近七成民眾支持立法禁止化妝品動物實驗。台灣必須跟上世界腳步、甚至可以成為零殘酷領導國家之一，可以用更快的時間、朝更正確的方向前進，台灣通過化妝品動物實驗的實驗禁令及販賣禁令刻不容緩！
備註：台灣民調來源由趨勢民意調查股份有限公司於2015年4月進行全國性民意調查，共完成1,073份有效樣本，在 95%信心水準下，抽樣誤差為正負 3.0 個百分點。
影片連結：https://youtu.be/5H0jiOLcFV8
Taiwan Legislator & #BeCrueltyFree Taiwan Launch Bill to End Cosmetics Animal Testing.
#BeCrueltyFree urges Taiwan to be first East Asian country to ban cosmetics cruelty
TAIPEI (17 April 2015) – Today at the Legislative Yuan (Taiwan’s Parliament), Legislator Wang YuMin and the Taiwan SPCA for the #BeCrueltyFree Taiwan campaign, launched a bill to ban animal testing of cosmetics in the country. A new opinion poll commissioned by the TSPCA and released today shows that 69.2 per cent of Taiwanese consumers want to see cosmetics animal testing banned, and 76.5 per cent believe animals shouldn't suffer in name of beauty.
An increasing number of countries around the world have banned the use of animals in cosmetics testing, including the European Union, Norway, Israel, India and New Zealand. Legislator Wang YuMin and the #BeCrueltyFree campaign are hoping Taiwan will be next to end cosmetics animal suffering. At a press conference held today, Legislator Wang along with Taiwan SPCA and Taipei Rabbit Society Association called upon the government to act quickly in passing the bill that would make Taiwan the first country in East Asia to ban cosmetics cruelty.
The ugly truth behind cosmetics animal testing was revealed at the press conference, such as the commonly used eye irritation test in which a substance is applied to a rabbit’s eye to measure any ocular damage. This cruel test can cause painful eye swelling, and even lead to ulcers and blindness. All such tests are conducted on animals without the use of painkillers, yielding test results that are often unreliable because human and animal reactions to chemical substances can be very different.
Legislator Wang worked collaboratively with #BeCrueltyFree Taiwan experts to deliver a world-class legislative proposal. In line with international trends, legislator Wang is proposing amendments to Taiwan’s Control for Cosmetic Hygiene Act, which would ban cosmetic animal testing as well as the sale of cosmetics which have been newly tested on animals abroad following a three year grace period, regardless of the current state of alternative tests. This puts Taiwan’s bill on a par with the dual test/sales ban of the European Union, and exceeds the less ambitious bill launched last month in South Korea.
Legislator Wang YuMin stated: “In 2009 the EU, the world’s largest cosmetics market, banned cosmetics animal testing, and in 2013 banned the sale of cosmetics that have been tested on animals. In recent years, Israel, India and New Zealand have also passed similar legislation.” Only by implementing this ban can the welfare and rights of the animals used in cosmetic testing be protected here in Taiwan.”
Taiwan SPCA & #BeCrueltyFree Taiwan campaign coordinator Joy Liou said: “The #BeCrueltyFree Taiwan campaign is delighted to join with Legislator Wang to launch this bill. Testing cosmetics on animals causes them pain and suffering, for test results that are unreliable and don’t represent modern science. Taiwan’s consumers will be better protected by banning cruel and outdated animal tests from cosmetics regulation. The number of countries that have banned or are in the process of banning cosmetics animals testing is on the rise, and with the global cosmetics market forecast to reach 265 billion USD by 2017, Taiwan’s international competitiveness will only increase once the legislation has passed.
“We urge the Taiwanese government to act quickly and pass this crucial legislation to prevent any more animals from suffering needlessly in cosmetics testing. Let’s move forward and make Taiwan the first East Asian country to #BeCrueltyFree!”
Taipei Rabbit Society Association’s Executive Director stressed, “Rabbits are very social animals that need to be in the company of other rabbits or animals. Not only are the tests they are forced to endure very painful for the rabbits, they will also suffer emotionally from not having social interactions with other rabbits.”
The Taiwan SPCA along with international partner Humane Society International have been actively running the #BeCrueltyFree campaign in Taiwan for more than a year, steadily gathering public petition signatures in favour of a ban, and gaining the support of 19 legislators and 23 cosmetic companies so far that back a change in the law.
Connie.chiang@spca.org.tw +886 2 2367-0317
Public opinion poll conducted by Trend Survey & Research Co. Ltd and commissioned by the TSPCA .
Video: https://youtu.be/5H0jiOLcFV8
