EDIT: March 25, 2012- I emailed MAC to receive their supposedly new animal testing policy but it has NOT changed. I am very unhappy with the response I received as it seems no effort was put into answering my questions at all. My email and MAC's response is below.
March 2, 2012
Can you please provide me with MAC's animal testing policy. Please provide information regarding the testing of finished products and ingredients as well as any animal testing conducted by a third party on your behalf.
In addition, can you please provide some information regarding whether or not your company, like your parent company Estee Lauder, sells to China or any other country that requires animal testing of all cosmetic products.
March 22, 2012
Thank you for taking the time to contact MAC.
MAC has a longstanding policy to not test on animals, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law.
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MAC Cosmetics is undoubtedly the most well known cosmetic brand available today. MAC is a subsidiary of Estée Lauder, which from my point of view is not cruelty free. My email correspondence with their company can be found under the July 2011 tab to the right. I was unable to find any information regarding MAC's animal testing policies on their official website. Since many people do consider MAC a cruelty free company, I sent them an email to see if their animal testing policy differs from that of their parent company.
July 27, 2011
I have been a very happy MAC customer for some time, but I have some questions regarding your animal testing policy. Do you share the same animal testing policies as your parent company Estee Lauder? Could you please send me some information regarding testing of finished products and ingredients as well as any third party testing. Thank you for your help.
July 28, 2011
Thank you for your interest in M.A.C.
The Estee Lauder Companies are committed to the elimination of animal testing. We are equally committed to consumer health and safety, and bringing to market products that comply with applicable regulations in every country in which our products are sold.
We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law. We evaluate our finished products in clinical tests on volunteer panels.
The Estee Lauder Companies fully supports the development and global acceptance of non-animal testing alternatives. To this end, the Company works extensively with the industry at large and the global scientific community to research and fund these alternatives.
I appreciate the opportunity to respond to your question, and sincerely hope I was able to be of assistance. You are valued as our consumer and I hope you will continue to use and enjoy our products with confidence and satisfaction.
The Estee Lauder Companies are committed to the elimination of animal testing. We are equally committed to consumer health and safety, and bringing to market products that comply with applicable regulations in every country in which our products are sold.
We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law. We evaluate our finished products in clinical tests on volunteer panels.
I appreciate the opportunity to respond to your question, and sincerely hope I was able to be of assistance. You are valued as our consumer and I hope you will continue to use and enjoy our products with confidence and satisfaction.
So MAC does have the same animal testing policies as its parent company Estée Lauder. I find its frustrating that a common response I have been getting is that companies don't test "except when required by law." How often is it required by law? What percentage of your products end up being tested on animals due to these legal reasons? I have already stopped purchasing MAC's products due to their parent company's animal testing policy, but this reinforces my commitment to not buy from MAC.
They say they don't animal test except when they have to... so really they are animal testing.
