Animal testing obligation abolished + Sovereign wealth funds reluctant on climate • China.Table

Compulsory animal testing for cosmetics abolished
Sovereign wealth fund still lacks eco-profile
Covid: only weak evidence for lab theory
Huawei launches own operating system
Goldman Sachs receives license
Foreign Minister Wang responds to criticism
Half a billion doses inoculated
Heads: David Wang – Huawei’s man in Berlin

Dear reader,

Wealth comes with responsibility. This idea is becoming more and more prevalent in investment decisions. Green investments are also experiencing a boom among private individuals worldwide – especially since future technologies such as climate-neutral energy sources are often highly profitable. However, China’s multi-billion dollar sovereign wealth funds are not quite getting on board yet, even though greater sustainability is now something of a state goal. Nico Beckert analyses the reasons for the sovereign wealth funds’ reluctance to act on green investments.

The Western cosmetics industry will find it much easier to offer its products on the Chinese market in the future. This is because the government has overturned the requirement for animal testing, which was previously a high hurdle. Frank Sieren explains why China has found it so difficult to dispense with the controversial testing on animals, despite being very technology-friendly.

Huawei is leaving its dependence on Google behind and launching its own mobile operating system next week. The electronics company is forced to disconnect itself from the lively world of Android apps. But perhaps the homegrown product will be a hit in China – and the Americans will lose out in the end.

Your
Finn Mayer-Kuckuk

Feature

Compulsory animal testing for cosmetics abolished

In the future, China will renounce the obligation to test cosmetic products on animals. This is a huge opportunity for international manufacturers. Until now, companies had to conduct animal tests if they wanted to sell their products in China. However, most suppliers did not do this for ethical reasons. Therefore, they could only sell their products via Hong Kong.

By
Frank Sieren

According to China’s National Medical Products Administration (“NMPA”), animal testing for the development of ordinary cosmetics is no longer mandatory in the People’s Republic. The regulation came into effect this month. Previously, cosmetic products such as shampoo, moisturizers, shower gel, lipstick, lotion, or makeup had to be tested on animals before going on the market. To test a moisturizer for skin irritation, for example, rabbits were injected with an active ingredient and occasionally dripped into their eyes. Unnecessary suffering, say animal rights activists.

So-called “special cosmetics” are exempt from the new regulation. These include products that claim to have a scientifically justified cosmetic or health function, such as whitening products, sunscreen, anti-hair loss products, or hair dyes. Even in the case of products developed specifically for babies and young children, manufacturers are not allowed to dispense with animal testing completely.

Fear of consumer scandals

In the EU, animal testing for cosmetics has been banned since 2013. However, this is not solely due to the love for animals. Thanks to scientific breakthroughs, the replication of human tissue samples replaced the need for animal testing in most laboratories. China, however, had a different approach. The country has been plagued heavily by food and product scandals. These have repeatedly caused unrest among the population. The hope was that animal testing could remedy the situation by proving that products were safe. So China, otherwise very technology-friendly, has stuck to an obsolete practice.

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