Animal rights is fast becoming a cause celebre in the twenty first century. Human beings around the globe have traditionally treated animals appallingly on the whole. Animals have been our four-legged slaves, our sources of food, and our entertainment, over millennia. The burgeoning middle classes in India and throughout the developed world are re-examining their attitudes and values, when it comes to our treatment of animals. Women are leading the charge in this, especially in relation to their beauty products and animal testing. Many cosmetics and medicines are tested on animals to ensure that they do not adversely react with human skin and other body parts and functions. It was, once, de riguour to test cosmetics on a range of animals considered to share similar proclivities with us in these regards. Cruelty free products in India are becoming more popular every day.

An Introduction to Animal Rights & Animal Testing

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) began in 1980 in the USA. PETA India was formed as a NFP in 2000; and their tag line tells us that animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or for our entertainment. This is just one of the many organisations devoted to protecting animals globally and in India. A big focus of the campaigns of these groups is to raise awareness about the high level of animal testing and vivisection carried out by the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and medical industries in laboratories everywhere. Animal testing is cruel and inaccurate, according to PETA India, because of the vast differences between humans and other animal species.  Can consumers trust their purchases of cruelty free cosmetics in India?

The Availability of Vegan & Cruelty Free Cosmetics in India

PETA produces a PETA approved Vegan logo that manufacturers who are accredited can put on their product packaging. You can check if the Indian manufactured beauty product that you are interested in is one that does not do animal testing by visiting the PETA.org Beauty Without Bunnies page online. Some of the companies vouchsafed by PETA are: vedaearth.com, Ahenaturals.com, alanaforyou.com, Amoha.org, Apcos Naturals, Bareearth.in, Body Shine Organics, brillarescience.com, Cholayil.com, Dermalogicaindia.com, Earth Origin, and Futureskin.in. There are many more available: and India is rapidly assuming the role of a global hub for cruelty free and vegan beauty products.

Animal Rights in India

The battle for animal rights in India continues apace with issues and campaigns constantly in the headlines. Consumers can do their bit by buying the right products, which are cruelty free.