Blog Post #6 Opinion Writing

Jihyeon Baeg
EW2-020
November 28, 2015

Cosmetics Testing : Is Animal Testing the Best Way?

       

          There were pros and contras on animal testing for a long time. Especially, the experiments on animals are also using for cosmetics testing. Many animal rights groups absolutely opposed to the testing, but there were many enterprises of cosmetics that said there’s no choice, too. In my opinion, the animal testing should be banned for two reasons. First of all, there are experiments which can be replaced instead of animal testing. [1]Over 500 cosmetic companies doesn't use that experiment. [2]For example, Avalon Natural Products, Aubrey-Organics, The Body Shop, and so on. "Without animal testing, companies can produce harmless products", said Be-Cruelty Free, which insists 'do not do experiments on animals' of the international animal rights group, Humane Society International. The companies that didn’t do animal testing replace the test with two another tests without animals. The first one is using artificial cells. [1]In case of the response of skin stimulation, that method is more accurate than using rabbits. The second one is using test tube. Without experiments with animals, using the test tube can sort out the toxicity of raw materials. [3]Also, Nick Parmer, who is from Cruelty-Free International, OECD organization has proved around twenty alternative tests. Another example is that there are many cosmetics corporations where they produce their products without testing of animals in Korea. In case of Amore Pacific, which is cosmetic company in Korea, it use artificial cornea. It develops that itself, and the cornea can be used evaluating degree of toxicity through change of color. Second, in case of Korea, if the animal testing is banned, it would be great precedent in Asia because Korean cosmetic industry is famous. Therefore, it can go for the effect of killing two birds with one stone. [4]Hyungjoo Lee, who is Director General for Policy Coordination, said, "After industrialization, animals have been treated just tool instead of life itself, so the number of animals for examination is increasing. However it's too immoderate, so it is the current of the times that permission of animal testing with bioethics." [5]After that, the revision which includes the banning of animal testing was approved in Korea. [6]In addition, in Europe, there are already similar bill since 2013. EU, the European Union, banned examination on animals, and it is also applied with imported goods. Israel, Norway, India etc, which have the greatest cosmetic industry, banned the any products with animal testing. The global campaign "Be Cruelty-Free" did a survey of animal testing. It did survey around 10 countries, and the result is the seventy percent in Korea had agreement of banning the experiment and most countries have over fifty percent agreement, especially 88% in New Zealand. That is to say, the opinion of agreement the banning animal testing is increasing around the world. In brief, banning the animal testing for cosmetics is the trend, so it should be banned, and instead use another testing.



Reference

[1] For the world without animal testing. Retrieved November 28, 2015, from http://www.hsi.org/issues/becrueltyfree/facts/infographic/ko/?referrer=https://www.google.co.kr/
[2] 동물자유연대. (2006, September 28). The companies which do or not do animal testing. Retrieved November 28, 2015, from http://www.animals.or.kr/newmain/board/board.asp?num=12&bname=zetyx_board_experiment&cpage=1&ct=yes
[3] KBS 2TV. (Director). (2011). 소비자고발 - EXAMINATION ON ANIMALS [Motion picture]. KOREA OF REPUBLIC. Retrieved November 28, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvxmO1lHuqg
[4] Ku Y. (2015, March 11). "Banning animal testing" Would Korea be the first country in East Asia?. Retrieved November 28, 2015, http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0002088756
[5] Hong ME. (2015, November 29). The bill of banning animal testing is approved. Retrieved November 29, 2015, http://www.womennews.co.kr/news/88857#.VlrVyXbhDIX
[6] Kim HP. (2014, 5 23). Trend Knowledge Dictionary2. 인물과사상사. Retrieved November 28, http://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=2718727&cid=55571&categoryId=55571
Image
(2009, September). Retrieved from http://flowmg.com/en/enpa-puppy/