New Delhi, Nov 29 (IANS): The Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) has recommended to the union health ministry to ban import of cosmetics tested on animals.

According to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), the board, at its meeting Monday, recommended that a suitable provision be added under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules to ban cosmetics tested on animals.

This comes close on the heels of recently enacted bans on the import, marketing and sale of cosmetics and their ingredients tested on animals in the European Union and in Israel.

Besides, it was also decided recently to remove animal tests for cosmetics in the Bureau of Indian Standards, which prepare standards for cosmetics.

"This recommendation is good for animals. Compliance with international standards can help ensure that cruel and outdated animal tests for lipstick and eye-shadow become history around the globe," says Peta's Chaitanya Koduri.

She added that the union health ministry must now officially ban animal-tested cosmetics.