It was only last month that the global cosmetics giant announced it was going to enter the Chinese market despite acknowledging that it was not going to be a popular decision with some of its loyal customers.
On revealing its plan, the brand well known in the US, UK, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Singapore and the Middle East came under fire primarily due to its conflicting animal testing policy.
Sue Leary of the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics' (CCIC), Leaping Bunny Program reckons that feedback from consumers is what swayed the company’s decision to back out.
"This wouldn't have happened without all the consumers who protested the company's move into China, there is a substantial market segment that makes buying decisions based on a company's position on animal testing. Companies ignore that at their peril.”
Company felt it could not comply with China regulations
However an Urban Decay spokesperson says that; “While several factors were important in reaching this decision, ultimately we did not feel we could comply with current regulations in China and remain true to our core principles.”
The CCIC recertified the cosmetic company with a Leaping Bunny’s cruelty-free status after striking it off its list last month after hearing about the move.
Now Urban Decay’s plans are to "Our hope is that the adoption of alternatives to animal testing worldwide will enable us to offer our products in the future to anyone, including many progressive consumers in China, who value cruelty free cosmetics."
China poised to accept first ever non animal test method
Chinese officials are in the final stages of approving the use of its very first non-animal test method for cosmetic ingredients.
Scientists at the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS) are responsible for guiding the officials into opting for the ‘3T3 Neutral Red Uptake Phototoxicity Assay’, said to be accepted by late summer.
The assay already used across the U.S. and Europe tests chemicals for their potential toxicity when they come into contact with sunlight. Until now, China has required cosmetics companies to test ingredients and products only on animals.