A bill seeking to ban the use of animals to test cosmetics was introduced in Argentina’s National Congress in early September 2026. The initiative is sponsored by Congresswoman Gabriela Estevez and has the backing of Te Protejo, an organisation registered in Chile that works across Latin America, through its “También Sienten” campaign.
Registered as Bill No. 4511-D-2026, the proposal would prohibit the use of animals for safety and/or efficacy testing of cosmetic products, personal hygiene products, and perfumes. It would also regulate how these products are manufactured, produced, imported, and marketed anywhere in the national territory.
Te Protejo explained that the text follows the model of laws that have already achieved the same ban in Chile, Brazil, and Mexico. The organisation took part in the submission and legislative processes in all three of those countries, and it is now doing the same in Argentina. Argentinian local animal protection groups also helped to disseminate and amplify the campaign, such as Animal Interseccional, DifusiónV, and Presupuestos Mín. Fauna Urbana.
Nicole Valdebenito, Directora de Incidencia at Te Protejo, said, “Currently, only seven Latin American countries have banned these practices within their territories, and we hope Argentina will become the number eight.”
Te Protejo shared the news with its supporters by email, inviting them to read the full text of the bill on the website of the Argentine parliament. The organisation also thanked three
If approved, the bill would end the practice of confining and using individuals from other species in laboratories to check cosmetic formulas, a form of vivisection that the proposed law would no longer allow to be carried out, or to be used as a basis for products sold, in Argentina.
In July 2025, the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil approved a bill banning the use of live vertebrates in tests for ingredients or products related to personal hygiene, cosmetics, and perfumes. The bill also modifies existing regulations, making it illegal to use data from such exploitative tests for product authorisation, except when required by other non-cosmetic national or international laws.
