Defining “Cruelty-Free”: Knudsen&CRC Partners with Government Bodies to Draft China’s Group Standard

In China, “cruelty-free” is no longer just an ethical aspiration — it’s becoming a verifiable qualification with clear, standardized criteria. And Knudsen&CRC helped write the rulebook.

Background on the Group Standard

Knudsen&CRC co-developed China’s first Group Standard for non-animal test cosmetics — T/SHRH080-2026, “Guidelines for the Evaluation of Non-Animal Test Cosmetics” — alongside the Shanghai Customs Animal & Plant and Food Inspection Quarantine Technology Center, under the organization of the Shanghai Daily Chemical Industry Association.

The Group Standard has completed all drafting and review stages. It was published on the national group standards platform on July 5, 2026, and takes effect July 30, 2026.This is a critical shift — from “policy allowance” to “standardized compliance.” Brands no longer have to interpret ambiguous guidance; they now have a published Group Standard to substantiate non-animal tested claims.

What the Group Standard Covers

Full lifecycle verification that no animal testing occurs — from R&D and production through safety and efficacy claims.
A structured evaluation framework combining document review with supply chain traceability, enabling true end-to-end compliance verification.
A defined list of internationally recognized alternative test methods accepted under the Group Standard.

Why Knudsen&CRC Is Positioned to Lead Here

Since 2018, we’ve pioneered helping international cosmetic brands enter the China market without animal testing.
We’re the sole authorized audit body for Leaping Bunny (US and Canada) in China, enforcing rigorous animal testing audit standards.
We’re currently advancing pilot projects for sunscreen product registration that substitute three mandatory animal tests with alternative methods.

What This Means for Brands

Once T/SHRH080-2026 takes force on July 30, non-animal tested status becomes more than a claim — it becomes a verifiable, market-differentiating advantage.

Brands that understand the Group Standard now, ahead of the effective date, gain a genuine first-mover advantage in compliance planning — while competitors are still catching up.