Consumer group Choice has hit out at L'Oreal-owned The Body Shop for selling duty-free products in Chinese airports which could be subject to animal testing.
The Body Shop markets itself as "cruelty-free" and has in the past vowed never to expand into China due to Chinese law, which mandates animal testing on cosmetic products. The Chinese government can take cosmetics off shelves at random and conduct animal testing.
The Body Shop claims duty free is not designated as in-country as products are not required to be tested on animals, but Choice says there is still the potential risk. Choice is running a campaign called #ComeClean, encouraging consumers to sign a petition and take to Twitter to voice their concern.
In a statement to Choice, The Body Shop said: "It is our understanding that our trading in China is through exclusive Duty Free outlets, and as such, the products that have been sold to these outlets were never tested on animals. If there are any instances of post market animal testing on our products by the Chinese government, it is absolutely being done without our consent or our endorsement and violates our strict code of ethics."
But according to Choice, the General Administration of Customs of China said it was "inconceivable that any foreign cosmetics company can bypass Chinese regulations and sell at the airports. The airports in Beijing and Shanghai are part of the Chinese territory that is subject to the same rules".
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