China considers end to mandatory animal testing on cosmetics By Zhang Dayu, CNN November 15, 2013 -- Updated 0649 GMT (1449 HKT) A worker holds white rats at an animal laboratory of a medical school in 2008 in Chongqing, China. China considers allowing sale of some cosmetics without requiring them to be tested on animals. The proposal covers products made in China, but not imported products Campaign group said change came quicker than expected But does not expect wholesale end to animal testing of cosmetics in China Hong Kong (CNN) -- Cosmetic companies and animal rights groups have welcomed a proposal by China to allow sales of some cosmetics without requiring them to be tested on animals. Animal testing would no longer be mandatory for "non-specialized cosmetics," including shampoo, soaps and certain skin products manufactured in China from June next year, according to a document posted on the website of the China Food and Drug Administration earlier this month. Beauty companies have long faced an ugly dilemma in China. Local laws and regulations require animal testing for cosmetic products sold in the country, which has made the lucrative market a tricky area for brands that want to sell in China without alienating consumers in other places that frown upon animal testing. "Non-specialized cosmetics produced in China could avoid toxicological testing after going through risk and safety checks," the China Food and Drug Administration said. Imported cosmetics are not covered in the proposal. But the document indicated that China would gradually ease regulations on animal testing, which would allow more international firms opposed to animal testing to enter China's 134 billion yuan ($22 billion) cosmetics market. READ: From poison to potion: Toxins turned into life-saving drugs Current regulations require all cosmetics to go through a lengthy approval process known as "toxicological testing" which involves testing on animals like rabbits and guinea pigs. "The Body Shop welcomes the signals that the Chinese authorities are adopting a new approach to cosmetic testing," spokeswoman Louise Terry said in emailed comments from London. We have campaigned against animal testing for over 20 years and we look forward to selling our products in China one day. Cosmetic brand Urban Decay last year abandoned plans to sell its products in China in response to pressure from consumers and campaign groups, according to Cruelty Free International. Dave Neale, animal welfare director at campaign group Animal Asia, told CNN the planned changes had come quicker than expected given that local campaigns against animal testing have only been going for two years. That's a very significant development because it took many years for European Union to allow these products to be sold (without being tested on animals). Earlier this year, a complete ban on the sale of cosmetics developed through animal testing took effect in the European Union. But Neale added that this proposal would not mark the end of animal testing in China. As far as I'm aware, products can still be tested on animals. It just opens the opportunity for non-animal products to be sold," he said. CNN's contributed to this report Chinese football fans finally have something to cheer about after a local team became Asian champions. Li Xue loves learning but has never spent a day in school. As a second child in "one child" China, she was not entitled to a state education.