Co-op backs and end to product tests
The Government must listen to the majority of the British public and
finally ban animal testing for household products such as washing-up
liquid and laundry powder as a priority, campaigners have urged.
Leading cruelty-free campaigners The BUAV (British Union for the
Abolition of Vivisection) have written to Prime Minister Gordon Brown
to call for an immediate ban following an independent survey which
showed over eighty per cent per cent of UK consumers are concerned
that household products are still tested on animals.
The move coincides with an awareness raising campaign by Co-operative
Food via national advertising launching in the first week of April and
promotions across its supermarkets and other activity over the next 12
months.
The Co-op became the first national retailer to offer BUAV approved
'Cruelty Free' household products four years ago. Marks & Spencer
responded to consumer demand and achieved BUAV certification with the
'Leaping Bunny' logo across its household products ranges earlier this
month.
In order to attain BUAV HHPS approved status and gain the right to use
the logo retailers or manufacturers must pledge that neither they nor
their suppliers will conduct or commission animal testing, and open up
their supply chains to full independent audit.
A Parliamentary Early Day Motion (EDM) supporting the campaign has
also recently been tabled by Labour MP for Stroud and member of the
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee David Drew (see notes to
editor for details).
BUAV chief executive Michelle Thew said: "Its now ten years since the
Government responded to public opinion and a BUAV campaign to ban
animal testing for cosmetic purposes. They should do the same for
household products without delay. Its unacceptable that animals can
continue to suffer in unpopular and unnecessary tests in the name of a
new improved air freshener or washing powder that produces even
whiter, brighter linen."
Co-operative Group Director of Marketing Patrick Allen said: "The Co-operative has led the way in phasing out the testing of household
products and ingredients on animals. The Co-operative Bank was the
first to deny financial services to businesses involved in animal
testing in these areas, and Co-operative Food was the first major
retailer to move its entire own-brand household product and laundry
ranges to the BUAV 'Cruelty-Free' standard. The Group and its members
will be working through 2008 to further raise awareness of the
continuation of the completely needless use of animal testing for
household products."
Notes
A Parliamentary EDM was tabled by David Drew MP was put down on the
18th March. It reads: "That this House notes the Government's 1997 policy prohibition on the
use of animals to test the safety of cosmetic products and their
ingredients, which was said to have been introduced on the basis that
the suffering caused was not justified given the nature of the
product; notes with regret that the Government has not implemented a
similar prohibition on the use of animals to test household products,
such as washing-up liquid or floor cleaners, and their ingredients;
supports the campaign of the British Union for the Abolition of
Vivisection to end the suffering of animals in tests for household
products and their ingredients; and calls on the Government to
implement a policy prohibition on issuing licences to test household
products and their ingredients on animals as a matter of urgency."
To view online and check the latest number of signatures click here:
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=35441&SESSION=891
The BUAV's Humane Cosmetics and Household Products Standards Leaping
Bunny logo is internationally recognised and patented cruelty-free
certification. Approved companies must open up their supply chain to a
rigourous indpendent audit. This painstaking process ensures that
neither the product nor, crucially, any of its ingredients have been
tested on animals at any stage of the manufacturing cycle. For more
information on the strict auditing process and a list of approved
companies visit www.gocrueltyfree.org
Cosmetic testing was banned in the UK in 1998.
The BUAV has been campaigning for over 100 years to achieve a world
where nobody wants or believes we need to experiment on animals. We
are committed to achieving our aims through reliable and reasoned
evidence-based debate. We are proudly non-violent and respect the
quality of life for all - animals and people.
For more information contact the BUAV press office during office hours
on 020 7619 6978 or out of hours mobile: 07850 510 955 / pressenquiries@buav.org