Welfare of Rabbits Used in Cosmetics Safety Testing

Rabbits have historically been the primary species used in cosmetics ingredient safety testing, with the Draize eye test among the most criticised procedures in animal research.

Key Facts

The Draize rabbit eye irritancy test has been used since 1944 to assess cosmetic and chemical eye safety
Rabbits are used for the Draize test because their eyes have less tear production than human eyes, making them more sensitive
The EU banned cosmetics animal testing for finished products in 2004 and for ingredients in 2013
Approximately 80 countries have no ban on cosmetics animal testing, including the US (for finished products), China, and India
China required animal testing for imported cosmetics until 2021; reforms now allow some alternatives
In vitro alternatives including reconstructed human corneal tissue models are validated for some but not all tests

Welfare Considerations

The Draize rabbit eye test is painful, causes lasting damage to rabbit eyes, and has been widely criticised as providing poor predictive value for human eye safety. The EU ban on cosmetics animal testing, combined with the availability of validated alternatives, has demonstrated that the industry can function without this test. The persistence of cosmetics animal testing in many countries reflects regulatory inertia and trade requirements rather than scientific necessity. Consumer purchasing power has been one of the most effective levers for driving brand cruelty-free commitments.

What You Can Do

Choose cosmetics brands certified as cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny or PETA
Avoid purchasing cosmetics brands that still sell in markets requiring animal testing
Support organisations lobbying for cosmetics animal testing bans in remaining countries
Advocate for accelerated regulatory acceptance of validated alternative test methods
Raise awareness that cruelty-free cosmetics are widely available and equally effective