Canada will join 43 countries later this year which have taken steps to ban cosmetic animal testing.

Ottawa says the practice has significantly decreased around the world and was rarely carried out in Canada.

”Protecting animals, now and in the future, is something that many Canadians have been calling for, and something we can all celebrate,” says Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos.

”We will keep working with experts and international partners to explore safe, cruelty-free alternatives so no more animals suffer and die due to cosmetic testing.”

The ban, that will come into effect in December, is not retroactive, meaning products previously tested on animals can still be sold.