What's going on?
After years of campaigning, the EU has banned animal testing for cosmetics from 11th March 2013! This ban prevents the import and sale of animal tested products and ingredients in the EU. However, some countries still demand animal testing, so we are still campaigning for a global ban.
Although alternative methods exist, many manufactures, including Unilever and Johnson & Johnson, continue to carry out tests on animals that aren't even required by law. The results of these tests are often unreliable or not applicable to humans anyway. Non-animal tests are cheaper, faster and more accurate at predicting human reactions to a product, and more and more companies are switching to these methods.
Why is animal testing an issue?
Painful experiments are carried out on hundreds of thousands of animals every year around the world, including dogs, rabbits, pigs, mice, rats, guinea-pigs, fish and birds. Animals are forced to swallow or inhale massive quantities of test substances or have caustic chemicals applied to their sensitive eyes and skin.Although alternative methods exist, many manufactures, including Unilever and Johnson & Johnson, continue to carry out tests on animals that aren't even required by law. The results of these tests are often unreliable or not applicable to humans anyway. Non-animal tests are cheaper, faster and more accurate at predicting human reactions to a product, and more and more companies are switching to these methods.
What can I do to help?
- Boycott companies that carry out animal testing. Visit Not Tested for a full list.
- Remember to look for the Leaping Bunny when buying your cosmetics and toiletaries.
- Support Cruelty Free International and The Body Shop's call for a global ban on animal testing for cosmetics by signing the pledge.
- Sign the Go Cruelty Free pledge and recieve a free Little Book of Cruelty Free in the post or download it here.
- Donate to the Leaping Bunny program
- Write to your favourite brands and ask them to go cruelty free. Download a template letter here.
- Download a copy of 'What is wrong with animal experiments? A guide for students' to share with your school.
- Support the Clean Up Cruelty campaign which aims to get as many organisations, institutions and companies to use only Leaping Bunny approved cleaning products.
Learn More
- Visit Go Cruelty Free to find out more about the EU animal testing ban and certified cruelty-free companies.
- Find out more about the BUAV's campaigns to end animal testing.
- Read up on PETA's cruelty-free policies
- Visit leapingbunny.org for more information and resources, including apps. Based in the US and Canada.
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