In a positive move for the new year, Israel has set into motion a ban on all cosmetics and household cleaning products that are manufactured by companies that utilize animal testing. The ban on products tested on animals has taken effect as of January 1, 2013. The law was passed in 2010 and just yesterday Israel announced that they are putting the new regulations into effect.

The model that Israel is using is from the European Union. The European Union is also in the final stages of banning cosmetics and household products created with animal testing. This will take effect in Marc of 2013. In order to give businesses time to adjust, Israel is not forcing them as of now to remove items already on the shelves.

However they will block imports of cosmetics and household cleaning products from companies that engage in animal testing in the future. The only exemption to the new regulations are products that are deemed medical necessities.

Animal rights are a very important issue in Israel. They also have one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world. In Israel animal rights groups have also been known to launch undercover exposes of animal cruelty and investigations quite often.

Another current animal issue that Israeli animal rights groups are working on is reforming religious rituals that are cruel to animals. A main target is the ritual of the transferring of sins to a chicken by swinging it over one's head three times before Yom Kippur. Congratulations to Israel for this wonderful move on their part of helping to protect animals in their country.