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National Cruelty-free Week

The 3rd annual National Cruelty-Free Week, 4th-10th July, run by the BUAV (British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection), aims to inform the public that animals are still used for the testing of cosmetics and household products. It asks consumers to look out for the BUAV rabbit and stars logo to ensure that neither the products they use, nor their ingredients have been tested on animals.

Most people want products that are not tested on animals but just don’t know where to find them. And every year thousands of animals continue to die in European laboratories in tests for products like shampoo, make-up, laundry detergent or washing-up liquid. Many thousands more suffer elsewhere around the world in countries such as Japan and the US.

Although cosmetics animal testing no longer occurs in the UK, tests for household products continue, and animal tested beauty and home-care products are still imported and sold in this country. So it’s up to shoppers to identify which products genuinely are cruelty-free, which is where the BUAV’s Little Book of Cruelty- Free can help.

The Little Book of Cruelty-Free lists only companies that are approved under the Humane Cosmetics Standard and the Humane Household Products Standard, the world’s only internationally recognised approval schemes for beauty and household products that are genuinely not tested on animals. To join the schemes, each company must prove they don’t conduct or commission animal testing, and apply a strict fixed cut-off date after which no animal testing must have taken place either within the company or throughout the supply chain.

Approved companies include Neal’s Yard Remedies, Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare, Moor Spa, the Co-op and The Body Shop, with more companies joining all the time.

BUAV Chief Executive, Adolfo Sansolini, says, “It is inexcusable that animals are still suffering for trivial products such as cosmetics and everyday cleaning products. When you buy products listed in the BUAV’s Little Book of Cruelty-Free you will be helping us end this shocking animal cruelty.”

For your free copy of the Little Book of Cruelty-Free, contact the BUAV on 020 7700 4888 or email your name and address to info@buav.org