As Europe Bans Sale of Animal-Tested Cosmetics , LUSH and Humane Society International CEOs Call for Global End to Cosmetics Cruelty
As the European Union finally banned the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics on 11 March 2013 , LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics Co-Founder and MD Mark Constantine , and Andrew Rowan , President and CEO of Humane Society International , one of the largest animal protection groups in the world , sent an open letter to the global cosmetics industry calling on it to abandon animal testing once and for all .
Although testing cosmetics on animals had been banned across the EU since 2009 , it was still legal to sell cosmetics that had been tested on animals in other countries . That changed from 11 March when a ban on selling newly animal tested cosmetics - first promised by politicians 20 years ago and delayed several times since then - finally came into force . Any beauty product , from shampoo and mascara to toothpaste and anti-wrinkle cream , is prohibited from sale if it contains ingredients tested on animals from 11 March .
HSI and LUSH have campaigned for many years to end cosmetics animal testing . LUSH , which has more than 800 shops in 51 countries , first launched its strictly ‘ no animal testing ’ policy in 1991 , becoming a beacon for ethical , compassionate cosmetics . HSI has led an intense and high profile campaign to see the EU sales ban enforced , and in April last year launched “ Be Cruelty-Free ,” the largest global campaign to end animal testing for cosmetics worldwide . In a letter sent to cosmetics industry trade associations around the globe , LUSH and HSI call on animal-testing companies across the world to choose the EU sales ban as the moment to go cruelty-free . The letter reads :
“ On 11th March we will witness a truly landmark moment in the history of the beauty industry . The world ’ s largest cosmetics market , the European Union , which has already banned animal testing of cosmetics within its own borders , will also close its doors to the sale of cosmetics tested on animals in other markets . This sales ban carries with it a clarion call from consumers : Cosmetics animal testing is not welcome and it needs to stop . Surely this must signal a turning point for the beauty industry worldwide to finally call an end to animal testing and commit to going cruelty-free ?
LUSH , Humane Society International and others have campaigned tirelessly to end cosmetics cruelty . Over the years we have heard every excuse in the book from cosmetics companies clinging on to animal testing , yet one by one those excuses have been exposed to be hollow and self-serving .
Animal toxicity tests represent out-dated science of decades-old techniques that cannot reliably assure consumer safety . The future of safety testing lies with modern , human-biology-based methods . So there is no scientific excuse for animal testing .
There are also many thousands of existing cosmetic ingredients that have long been established as safe for use , meaning they don ’ t require any new testing . Myriad combinations of these allow companies such as LUSH to innovate to their heart ’ s content . So there is no business excuse for animal testing .
And of course animal testing causes unimaginable suffering as rabbits and other animals have chemicals dripped in their eyes or spread on their delicate skin . Swollen eyes , skin rashes and organ damage are the ugly hidden secrets of a beauty industry that has dragged its feet on ending animal testing .
So there is no ethical excuse for animal testing . Hundreds of cruelty-free retailers such as LUSH demonstrate every day that producing exciting , safe and innovative beauty products is entirely possible without new animal testing . So as we celebrate the EU going cruelty-free , we urge all those companies still testing cosmetics on animals in the United States , China , Brazil , India , Canada , South Korea , Russia and beyond to please do the decent thing and stop the suffering . Show your global customers that beauty isn ’ t just skin deep — that it has a heart . You have it within your collective power to stop cosmetics cruelty today . Please do it . Enough is enough .”
To mark the historic EU sales ban , sign the Be Cruelty-Free pledge at www . hsi . org / becrueltyfree and help HSI create a world where no animal has to suffer and die for the sake of cosmetics .
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