Brazil has enacted a nationwide ban on animal testing for cosmetics, personal hygiene products, and perfumes, with the legislation, Law 15.183/25, taking effect in July 2025. This move prohibits the use of live vertebrate animals for testing the safety, efficacy, or toxicity of cosmetic ingredients and finished products. Companies are also barred from using data derived from animal testing conducted after the law's effective date for product marketing authorization. Products tested on animals prior to the law's enforcement can still be sold, but they cannot be marketed with "cruelty-free" claims if their safety was certified through post-enforcement animal testing.
This federal law unifies earlier regional bans implemented by states like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Health authorities have been granted a two-year period from the law's publication to implement and disseminate alternative testing methods. Brazilian companies are actively adopting these innovative approaches. O Boticário has pioneered the development of 3D-printed human skin models, which include hair follicles for more realistic testing. Natura is investing in "body on a chip" systems to simulate human organ interactions and assess systemic toxicity. Brazil's action aligns it with a global trend of countries and regions, including the European Union and several U.S. states, that are implementing similar bans, positioning Brazil as a leader in ethical beauty standards in Latin America.