Update: The public consultation period is now closed. See our latest blog post about the status of this bill!
Canada’s House of Commons recently passed a bill that could end one of the cruellest forms of animal testing—and Canadians have an important opportunity to ensure it happens as quickly as possible.
Bill S-5, Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act, revamps the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA), and includes a roadmap to phase out toxicity tests on animals and transition to cruelty-free alternatives.
Toxicity tests are used to assess the safety of chemicals in a range of products, and are known to be incredibly cruel and excruciating for animals. In toxicity tests, sensitive animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, and mice are subjected to brutal practices, like being force-fed deadly substances or having chemicals dripped into their eyes without pain relief. Up to 90,000 animals suffer in toxicity tests every year in Canada.
Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada are consulting the public until June 9 on whether to amend regulations relating to chemicals and polymers under Act. We’re asking for the regulations to be amended to support Canada’s goal of eliminating unnecessary toxicity testing on animals and to phase it out altogether by 2035 at the latest—which is the deadline in the governing Liberals’ 2021 election promise.
Please join us in taking part in the public consultation before the June 9 deadline!
