Cruelty Free International has today welcomed the publication of a new cross-party Bill which would phase out all animal testing for cosmetics and their ingredients by 2020. The Bill, by senior Duma Parliament members Sergei Doronin and Igor Igoshin, is the first of its kind in Russia and has already sparked a lively debate.

The publication of this Bill follows a visit to Moscow last year by the Cruelty Free International Director of Policy, Dr Nick Palmer and a return visit to the organisation’s London offices by Mr Doronin’s team. The text for the Bill itself was drafted with advice from Anastasia Komargina, Russia Campaign Manager for Cruelty Free International.

Cruelty Free International Chief Executive Michelle Thew commented, “We welcome this Bill and congratulate Sergei Doronin and Igor Igoshin for introducing it. This latest development in Russia follows similar progress we have made in many other countries following the EU ban on animal cosmetics tests, including China, Korea and Brazil, and confirms the international trend to bring the archaic practice of animal testing for cosmetics to an end. We know that our supporters around the world will be delighted.”

Sergei Doronin said, "It is very satisfying to be putting forward this proposal to bring Russia among the leading countries in the world for the ethical principle of no longer allowing animals to suffer for cosmetics. The input from Cruelty Free International on the legislation has been very helpful and I appreciate the global support for the initiative."

Igor Igoshin added, "I look forward to the time when animals no longer suffer to bring cosmetics to market in Russia, and I'm pleased with this Bill to contribute to the global effort by Cruelty Free International to end experiments of this kind and adopt modern non-animal alternatives."

Find out more about work for a global ban on animal testing for cosmetics.