Introduction of the development and production of cosmetics

In the development and production of cosmetics, animal testing is highly used as it is one of the fields that require animals to be tested. Countless animals die in various ways in many countries. Animals are subjected through different procedures and it becomes the reason why they mercilessly die at some point or the other. As far as animal testing is concerned, the common animals used for testing include rats, mice, guinea pigs, and rabbits. They are gassed, poisoned, mutilated, and even burned. Unfortunately, if they are able to survive, they are either killed so that their bodies can be studied deeply or they are subjected through the same thing again. They are again tormented in maybe different ways compared to the older ones.

Reason for animal testing of the development and production of cosmetics

In the production of cosmetics, animal testing takes place largely due to the fact that every other year, thousands upon thousands of household and cosmetic products arrive in the market. In various countries, animals are tested for checking the durability of the product. Sometimes, final products and other times, individual ingredients are tested on animals. Surely, this doesn’t happen for the products that already exist in markets. There are numerous companies competing with each other so the process is almost never-ending.

In India, European Union and many other places, experimentation featuring animals is prohibited. This means that there are placed and products which are not tested on animals before arriving in the market. However, there still are places where animals are used for testing.

Supporting animal testing of the development and production of cosmetic

Normally, there is no doubt that scientific community highly favors the use of animals when it comes to testing. It is their perspective that compared to animals, humans are obviously superior which justifies their decision for using animals. Although it is important to reduce the suffering of animals but it is cited by them that is preferred more for the suffering of an animal rather than a human. It can be said that medical breakthroughs that have taken place due to animal testing also are considered a significant reason for continuing the practice. Supporters of animal testing believe that as animals are subjected through tests, human lives are saved ultimately.

Due to the controversy over animal testing, a lot of media attention is given to the issue and concentration is placed upon animal care in various facilities that rely on testing. There are some countries such as Britain where laws and regulations concerning the fact are quite strict. Although there is a strong barrier but the transparency becomes a positive step for both controversial parties (Murnaghan, 2018).

Ethical issues of the development and production of cosmetics

An important argument in opposition to animal testing concerns the lack of ability of animals to consent when it comes to tests. It is indeed argued that humans have the ability of making decisions with the focus upon consent. However, animals lack this power and that is why tests are forced. They simply don’t have a choice.

A huge and critical ethical issue that exists when it comes to animal testing is the fact that it involves discomfort, suffering, and pain under various conditions. It is true that researchers struggle to address the issue and minimize the suffering whenever it is possible but they are unable to completely resist the suffering of animals. It is simply not completely prevented by them no matter what efforts they put in it. Sometimes when it is possible, anesthetic is used but there are also times when using a pain reliever means a connection with the product or chemical being tested. That is why animals have to experience regardless of the issues, the effects of the chemical that is being tested.

Now there is the use of animal testing in cosmetics. No doubt, Britain and Europe have banned animal testing but there still are regions and countries that use harmless animals for testing products. There are people who seem to oppose the idea of using animals for testing and they say that it is cruel and outrageous to use animals just so that a better product can be created and some individuals can look better. In the process, the aesthetic element or component is actually considered a major problem and there are some individuals that seem to support the idea of animal testing but only for purposes that are involved with medical field and nothing else and not even cosmetics (Sandøe & Christiansen, 2013).

The idea against animal testing is actually fueled by abuse cases even when the scientific community’s reaction was swift and pointed that such types of abuses will not be tolerated at all.

Complex ethics of the development and production of cosmetics

If the issue of animal testing has to be referred as a whole, it can be no doubt very easy to simply categorize the process as either wrong or right. However in a perfect world, there would be models of non-animals that would be used for testing but that doesn’t simply seem to e the case yet. Even though the practice of animal testing has been banned in many countries such as India and Britain, animal still seem to offer the perfect models as representatives of a human body and that is why they are preferred for testing.

Since the products are designed for the use of humans, it is important to know the effects of such products on humans. That is why testing is required. However, testing cannot be performed on humans because it is unethical. When it comes to animals, they illustrate a human body in the best way and that is why they are captured and subjected through various components of the product so that the aftereffects can be evaluated. Scientists state that they don’t like to use animals but there is no other way for making sure that the product doesn’t have an adverse effect on a human (Hollis, 2014).

Advantages of animal testing of the development and production of cosmetics

It has been suggested by supporters that living systems are very complex regardless whether animals or humans are discussed. The structure is more than just a little difficult to study. The evaluation of a drug needs a circulatory system which cannot be offered by mere cultures. Additionally, even some of the strongest supercomputers don’t have the ability of accurately simulating the functioning of complex organs. When such a complex system is required, humans cannot be simply used and that is why animals are preferred.

 Animals have the capability of offering a system that is similar to that of a human. Up till now, there are not many alternative solutions with the power of offering such systems. Therefore, the effects of drugs can be assessed in a more definite way using animals for testing.

It is actually exclaimed by supporters that researchers make sure that animals don’t have to suffer than required. They are cared for by scientists and it ensures that animals don’t have to phase through hideous acts. Additionally with the presence of acts such as AWA (Animal Welfare Act) and IAUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee), the process of animal testing is regulated efficiently. There are laws along with regulations that protect animals. Although, justifications are in place but there still are questions.

Disadvantages of animal testing of the development and production of cosmetics

The very first disadvantage is that animal ethics are violated with animal testing.  After all, animal testing is not only inhumane but it is also cruel. Humane Society International states that animals which are subjected through experiments are fed, deprived, and suffer by force. They have to face burns and many other wounds which are considered fatal for them. Cosmetic companies use the Draize eye procedure or test for the evaluation of wincing of irritation that is caused by gels, shampoos, and other products. In this test, the eyes of rabbits are forced open as the product is being tested.

Furthermore, it has also been determined that animals are very much different from humans and it makes them incompatible for product testing whether it is the cosmetic or medical field (Animal-testing.procon, 2018).

Some common tests in cosmetics of the development and production of cosmetics

In the field of cosmetics, some common tests include The Draize Test, Acute Toxicity, Skin irritation and corrosion, Skin sensitization, Toxicokinetics, Carcinogenicity, and Development and Reproductive toxicity. It has been found that all these tests seem to harm animals in a critical way. Although it is clear that such types of tests harm animals in a crucial way and hamper the animal ethics but companies still rely on such tests to ensure the product durability.

Conclusion of the development and production of cosmetics

Overall, it can be said no doubt that there are tests that seem to disturb animal ethics. Different products rely on different tests and animals are subjected through various experiments. There is a lot of controversy on the subject of animal ethics and there is still no clear answer regarding the subject. There are questions such as: Should human be used then? Such questions are not answered and it raises more questions. Personally, I think that animals should not be subjected through experiments just to ensure that the product can beat others in the market. It is important to keep the track of animal research ethics.

References of the development and production of cosmetics

Animal-testing.procon. (2018). Should Animals Be Used for Scientific or Commercial Testing? Retrieved from Animal-testing.procon: https://animal-testing.procon.org/

Hollis, R. (2014, June 25). ANIMAL TESTING: COSMETICS, BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND ETHICS. Retrieved from Antisensescienceblog: https://antisensescienceblog.wordpress.com/2014/06/25/animal-testing-cosmetics-biomedical-research-and-ethics/

Murnaghan, I. (2018, Sep 20). Controversy of Animal Testing. Retrieved from Aboutanimaltesting: http://www.aboutanimaltesting.co.uk/controversy-of-animal-testing.html

Sandøe, P., & Christiansen, S. B. (2013). Ethics of animal use. John Wiley & Sons.