Dr. Hauschka
Dr.Hauschka
Dr.Hauschka
Dr.Hauschka

Topic: Cosmetics and animal testing

Animal testing in cosmetics: Why it’s not necessary

Dr. Hauschka Skin Care products are manufactured at WALA Heilmittel GmbH. WALA Heilmittel’s experience of using natural substances and the biodynamic cultivation of medicinal plants to provide natural care extends back to 1935. The responsible and sustainable development and manufacture of our products is something that has been at the core of Dr. Hauschka Skin Care ever since our beginnings in 1967. Today, we are proud to carry this philosophy forward.

Naturally, this also means that no animal tests have ever been conducted by or on behalf of Dr. Hauschka Skin Care since our founding in 1967.

Although Dr. Hauschka itself has always foregone animal testing, the EU cosmetics regulation that came into force on 11 March 2013 represented an important step forward for animal welfare in the cosmetics industry as a whole, as it banned the testing of cosmetic products and their raw materials on animals. This ban is legally binding, which means all cosmetics manufacturers within the EU must comply with the legislation.

How are we still able to guarantee that Dr. Hauschka Skin Care products are well tolerated by the skin?

Prior to market launch, the ingredients used in all our products are tested for their safety and skin compatibility. This includes, among other things, analysing the ingredients with regard to their toxicological properties. The analysis takes into account all available literature data, legal requirements, specifications, official recommendations and empirical values.

Our carefully selected ingredients maintain the correct profile from their origin through to their use in the final product and are deemed safe as a cosmetic ingredient in the concentrations used.

Dr. Hauschka products are not tested on animals. Not only is it not necessary but dermatological tests on human volunteers are far more informative

In addition, we conduct dermatological tests on volunteers at independent institutes before launching any new cosmetic products on the market. These tests confirm the high tolerability of our products. We also consider such user tests to be far more informative than animal testing.

Science has made great progress in recent years in the development of alternative methods for testing and assessing the safety of cosmetic products. As a result, more and more next generation risk assessment (NGRA) test options are now available for checking the skin compatibility of cosmetic raw materials and end products.

Alternative methods to animal experiments are conducted in vitro, which is Latin for “in glass”, and describes tests performed outside a living organism in a test tube – with the help of cell cultures, for example.

Dr. Hauschka Skin Care is on PETA’s list of “companies that don't test on animals”. This list is published on the following PETA website: Beauty without Bunnies | Search for cruelty-free cosmetics.

As a manufacturer of high-quality certified natural cosmetics, WALA Heilmittel GmbH believes it has a special ethical responsibility. With our biodynamic cultivation of medicinal plants and controlled organic Demeter farming, we treat animals and our planet in a humane, sustainable and responsible manner. Our range also includes vegan cosmetics.

Cosmetic Safety and Information Department of WALA Heilmittel GmbH