There is no significant difference between cruelty free and not tested on animals. Both are labels for products that indicate that no animals were harmed or killed in order to produce them. However, the FDA (U.S Food and Drug Administration) has no legal definition for both these terms.
Products that are tested on animals are considered cruel since this kind of tests are often painful and sometimes fatal to animals. Thus, cruelty free and not tested on animals mean the same thing. You can mostly find these two labels on cosmetic products.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Cruelty Free
– Meaning, Logos
2. What is Not Tested on Animals
– Meaning, Features
3. What are the Similarities Between Cruelty Free and Not Tested on Animals
– Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Cruelty Free and Not Tested on Animals
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Animals, Cosmetics, Cruelty Free, Not Tested on Animals
What is Cruelty Free?
Cruelty free is a label you can mainly find in cosmetics products. In addition, you can also see it in personal-care products, clothing, shoes, and household cleaners. This label indicates the production or manufacture of a certain product does not involve killing or harming animals. Moreover, different organizations and institutions use different logos to indicate that a product is cruelty free. Some of these include:
Leaping Bunny label by Human Cosmetic Standard
Choose Cruelty-Free (applies to cosmetics, hygiene and home products, and medicines)
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has two labels: cruelty free and cruelty free and vegan
IHTN Rabbit
What is Not Tested on Animals?
Not tested on animals is also a label that indicates that harming or killing of animals did not take place in the manufacture of a product. Since testing a product on animals cause suffering and death of animals, cruelty free and tested on animals mean the same thing. Furthermore, acute toxicity testing, skin sensitivity testing, eye and skin irritation testing, developmental toxicity testing, and carcinogenicity testing are some of the tests cosmetics manufacturers conduct using animals.
However, the FDA (U.S Food and Drug Administration) has no legal definition for both these terms. According to most advocates for these labels, in order for a product to be truly cruelty free, not only the final product, the ingredients used in the production of the cosmetic also have to be not tested on animals. However, some companies use these claims liberally in their product promotion and advertisements, although they use raw materials that have been tested on animals.
Similarities Between Cruelty Free and Not Tested on Animals
- Since testing a product on animals cause suffering and death of animals, cruelty free and tested on animals mean the same thing.
- We can mostly see these labels on cosmetics. In addition, they are also available on personal-care products, clothing, shoes, and household cleaners.
- Moreover, there are no legal definitions for both these labels.
- According to industry experts and advocates of these labels, in order to be a truly cruelty free product, both the finished product as well as the ingredients used must not use animal testing.
Difference Between Cruelty Free and Not Tested on Animals
- Basically, there is no difference between cruelty free and not tested on animals. Both labels indicate harming or killing of animals did not take place while manufacturing the product.
Conclusion
Since testing a product on animals cause suffering and death of animals, cruelty free and tested on animals mean the same thing. Thus, there is no significant difference between cruelty free and not tested on animals. We can mostly find these labels on cosmetics.
Reference:
1. “Cruelty-Free Cosmetics.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Dec. 2019, Available here.
2. “Cruelty-Free.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Dec. 2019, Available here.
3. “‘Cruelty Free’/‘Not Tested on Animals’ Labeling on Cosmetics.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “NoAnimalTesting” (Fair use) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “essentials, cosmetics, beauty, foundation, glamour, Makeup, brushes, make-up, make-up brush, also beauty product” (CC0) via pxfuel
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