Humane Society International’s (HSI) Be Cruelty-Free campaign has launched a national tip line to report cases of illegal animal testing of cosmetics. HSI/India has asked callers to report suspected illegal activities in cosmetics testing facilities at the telephone tip line at +91 767-492-2044. A Rs 25,000 reward for information leading to prosecution and conviction will be available.
When contacted, Navamita Mukherjee of Humane Society International said that the first national tip line has been launched to combat illegal animal testing for cosmetics and help the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Drug Controller General implement India's historic ban. Testing cosmetics on animals has been outlawed because it is cruel and unnecessary, so we encourage anyone who has any information on any sort of animal testing for cosmetics taking place in any part of India to call us".
She further said that organization is working with different organizations to spread the word against cruelty against animals. In Jamshedpur, the organisation is working along with JUSCO, a 100 per cent subsidiary of Tata Steel, proving civic amenities, to spread awareness in the city. Mukherjee said that the drive is getting an overwhelming response from the across the country. She said that the ban on animal testing makes it illegal to perform such animal tests for the testing of cosmetics, or to import cosmetics which have been tested on animals outside of India on and/or after 12 November, 2014.
The Be Cruelty-Free campaign is part of Humane Society International's consumer, legislative, corporate and scientific initiative to end animal testing of cosmetics worldwide. Be Cruelty-Free has been launched in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, India, New Zealand, South Korea and Russia, and in the United States is spearheaded by HSI's sister organisation, The Humane Society of the United States.