Animal Testing Laws In China: The Current Status In 2025
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In countries like China, certain cosmetic products may be subject to mandatory animal testing regulations. If a brand wants to sell its products in physical stores in China, it has to comply with these regulations, where animal testing may occur.
Starting in 2023, brands have the opportunity to enter the Chinese market without funding animal cruelty. However, not every brand may qualify. Certain ingredients, products, and claims may still trigger animal tests during the registration process, and post-market testing involving animals, while rare, is still a possibility.
To avoid animal testing in China, companies must meet specific criteria:
- Sell only ‘general’ cosmetics in China (such as makeup, skincare, haircare, nail polish, and perfumes).
- Avoid selling ‘special’ cosmetics like sunscreens or hair dye.
- Refrain from selling products for infants, children, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, or products containing ‘New Cosmetic Ingredients.’
- Have a policy in place to recall products if post-market testing is required rather than allowing them to be tested on animals.
Furthermore, products can avoid animal testing in China if they are manufactured in China or if their final assembly occurs in China. If manufactured outside of China, companies must obtain the proper safety certificates from their country of origin.
Brands that have been selling in China must ensure that all their products meet the exemption criteria while providing the proper safety certificates from specific authorities. This means that many brands currently sold in China may not yet be entirely cruelty-free.
It’s essential to note that while China is gradually relaxing its animal testing laws, it does not mean that all brands sold in China are now cruelty-free. While this phase may raise questions, brands selling in China no longer have to be an immediate no-no for cruelty-free shoppers.
To simplify this complex process, we’ve created an infographic to help you determine whether a brand might be tested on animals in China.
sorry, Simone, but as a bunny rescuer Canadian , after hearing how after decades of China allowing their companies to do so much cheating in so many foreign trade deals, I simply don’t trust them, in fact I say we should cut all trade until their government is overthrown.
PETA’S filming of China’s angora rabbit fur harvesting where the coat is all pulled off instead of shaved exposes unimaginable brutality and constant suffering throughout their caged life.
Hi Barry, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts—and especially for the work you do as a bunny rescuer, that truly means a lot. I completely understand where your feelings are coming from. The footage of angora rabbit fur harvesting is incredibly upsetting, and it’s something that has stayed with me as well. No animal deserves that kind of suffering.
I also want to be honest that I personally don’t blindly trust the situation either. At the same time, I do think it’s important to keep an eye on the changes that are happening and the possibility that things may (slowly) improve over time. It’s a complicated situation, and I think the best approach is to stay informed, be cautious, and not trust too easily—like you said.
Thank you again for caring so deeply and for speaking up!