NARS responds to backlash over animal testing in China

The makeup brand has just launched in China and fans aren’t happy.

Under law China requires animal testing for certain products, meaning brands who want to enter the market must submit to the practice and no longer qualify as cruelty-free.

Many NARS fans are unhappy with what they view as the company’s changed stance, and they’re calling on people to boycott the brand:

in other news I’m so angry at nars for selling out their cruelty free status so they’d make more money fuck em

— amber ? (@ambersabore) June 25, 2017

Why Nars?????? pic.twitter.com/yd4OEAFArf

— Verity (@VerityLocke) June 25, 2017

. @NARSissist this is incredibly sad to hear! Cruelty Free dupe video on NARS products coming ASAP!!! https://t.co/r7KJlGs8tY

— Jkissa (@JkissaMakeup) June 25, 2017

Used to be such a huge fan of nars, not anymore! Never promoting their brand again after confirming selling in China. ❌?

— quisha (@quisharose) June 25, 2017

RE: NARS Greed wins over ethics again. You have to question whether these brands even cared in the first place?

— Tara ? (@Catstello) June 26, 2017

i’m dropping NARs because they went from CF to testing on animals. they changed their entire company for $$$ https://t.co/k2bcAQReIE

— princess belle (@urbandoll) June 27, 2017

NARS took to their Instagram to directly respond to the overwhelming response:

We want you to know that we hear you. The global elimination of animal testing needs to happen. We firmly believe that product and ingredient safety can be proven by non-animal methods, but we must comply with the local laws of the markets in which we operate, including in China. We have decided to make NARS available in China because we feel it is important to bring our vision of beauty and artistry to fans in the region. NARS does not test on animals or ask others to do so on our behalf, except where required by law. NARS is committed and actively working to advance alternative testing methods. We are proud to support the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS), a globally recognized organization at the forefront of advancing non-animal methods in China and around the world. NARS is hopeful that together, we can work toward a cruelty-free world. For more on the good work IIVS is doing, see: http://bit.ly/2rVjnwV

A post shared by @narsissist on Jun 27, 2017 at 8:18am PDT