The information on animal testing in Sri Lanka is murky at best. There's barely any official communication on the subject, companies are unable (or unwilling) to tell you what their testing policies are, and consumers don't really know how to go about finding out.
Animal testing is generally divided into medical and cosmetic testing, where various types of animals from mice to rabbits to beagles are tested upon in the hope that their reactions can be indicative of human reactions. Unfortunately, these methods of testing are often cruel, ineffective, and expensive. In fact, reports claim that barely 40-60% of tests on animals are accurate.
The issue here in Sri Lanka, and about 80% of the world's countries, is that there are no actual specific laws against animal testing. Some other countries (like China, for example) insist that animal testing occurs in order for a brand to sell within its markets so brands that open there have to abide by these rules. There are yet others like India, New Zealand, and most of the EU who have banned animal testing entirely.
Locally-Available Brands That Don't Test On Animals
I've found a few local and locally-available brands that don't test on animals, in case you want to update your make up box ethically! If you know of any others, please drop us a comment below and we'll add it on.
- The Body Shop
- Spa Ceylon – We were very happy to hear that one of our favourite local brands cruelty-free. According to their website, they "promote environmentally-friendly products, supports human rights, and are against the use of child labour and animal testing. All products are alcohol free & contain no ingredients of animal origin."
- Seri Naturals – The Sri Lankan company uses pure ingredients sourced from Sri Lanka and France, plus they're quite open about their stance against animal testing!
- Smashbox – An LA-based company with great makeup available here at Exclusive Lines.
If you're a hardcore makeup artist or just like your war paint, check out this full list including quite a few spots that deliver to Sri Lanka, like ColourPop, Anastasia Beverly Hills or Urban Decay. We've got a list of makeup spots here in case you're on the prowl, but you'll be hard pressed to find brands that are cruelty-free, from YSL to Givenchy to L'Oreal (all available here).
What You Can Do About It
Putting pressure on companies and Governments is usually the smartest way to push policy change. For example, I found this heartening report that a bunch of local vets made an official stand against animal testing in labs. In the meanwhile, you can petition the Government to safeguard the rights of animals beyond the existing (and often un-inforced laws).
You can also head to the Body Shop outlets or this page to sign the petition Forever Against Animal Testing, which will be sent to the UN to request an international convention against the practice. If you've already done one of those things, go ahead and Tweet, Instagram, or hashtag #ForeverAgainstAnimalTesting to get other people talking about it too!
