Bill S-214 (Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act) is expected to be introduced tomorrow for first reading in the House of Commons by Conservative MP and Health Critic Marilyn Gladu. The private member’s bill, which was passed in the Senate after first being introduced in 2015, seeks to amend Canada’s Food & Drugs Act to prohibit the sale and manufacture of animal tested cosmetics in Canada.
Cosmetics Alliance has worked extensively with MP Gladu, the Health Minister’s office, and stakeholders including animal protection advocates, on proposed amendments to address the many issues identified in the Senate version of the bill and ensure it is workable within Canada’s regulatory framework as well as aligned with the ban in the European Union.
After the introduction for first reading, next steps include second reading, committee review, then third reading before an amended bill would have to go back to the Senate for approval. There are a very limited number of sitting days left before parliament prorogues for the upcoming election. As such, the passing of the bill is unlikely although not impossible. However, if the bill gets to committee stage and is amended to address its defects, it would make it easier to move forward with a new bill following the general election and subsequent new Parliament.
A copy of Cosmetic Alliance’s draft external statement regarding the bill’s introduction is attached and will be publicly available following introduction of the bill. A joint stakeholder letter recently sent to MP Gladu and Health Minister PetitpasTaylor is also attached for reference.
Bill S-214 – Stakeholder Letter April 10, 2019
