Following two years of work by Cruelty Free International in collaboration with Korean National Assembly member Moon Jeong-Lim, the organization has announced a package of progressive breakthroughs on animal testing in Korea, including a bill to phase out animal tests for cosmetics, which has won agreement from both Ministry of Food and Drugs Safety(MFDS)and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs [MAFRA], the Ministry responsible for animal testing.

In addition, MAFRA is reportedly planning to include a ban on animal testing for cosmetics in a 5 Year Plan for Animal Welfare. Representative Moon’s Bill underpinning the process will be put to the Assembly with MFDS support in the coming months.

Nine alternative methods to animal tests have already been validated in Korea and two more are in the pipeline. Once these have been validated for use, the MFDS will publish official guidelines on the full set of alternatives.

This breakthrough follows similar moves around the globe, including in Brazil, India, China and Vietnam.