BUAV: Government under mounting pressure to ban animal tests for household products

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Thursday, 17, Jul 2008 12:00

The Government is coming under increasing pressure to ban the testing of household products on animals from an all party cross-section of high profile MPs.

More than 160 MPs, including party leaders and notable figures such as Diane Abbott (Lab) and Oliver Letwin (Con), have signed a parliamentary petition demanding the ban on animal testing for cosmetics is extended to cover household products. Currently, tests for products like laundry powder and surface cleaners and their ingredients can still legally cause suffering to animals.

The petition is known as early day motion (EDM) 1215. Other signatories include Labour MPs Frank Field, Michael Meacher, Keith Vaz and Ian McCartney. Also, Ian Cawsey MP who is the Labour vice-chair with responsibility for animal welfare. and Conservative MPs Ann Widdecombe and Andrew Rosindell. Support has come from Charles Kennedy, Sir Menzies Campbell and Vince Cable of the Liberal Democrats and the leaders of the Scottish National Party, Alex Salmond, and Plaid Cymru, Elfyn Llwyd. EDM 1215 is now in the top two per cent of early day motions for number of signatures.

An independent survey shows more than 80 per cent per cent of UK consumers would be concerned to learn that it is still legal to test everyday household products on animals.

Recognising public support for the ban, Diane Abbott MP (Lab) says “It’s inexcusable that animals can still be used to test things like floor cleaner or washing-up liquid.”

The Conservative Chairman of the Policy Review and Conservative Research Department, Oliver Letwin MP, says “Difficult issues are raised by the testing of medicines on animals. But I really do not believe that there is any way we can justify testing non-medical products on sentient beings.”

In response to growing consumer awareness on the High Street, an increasing number of leading companies, such as Marks and Spencer, are signing up to the BUAV Humane Household Product Standard (HHPS), ensuring that no animal testing takes place for their products.

BUAV chief executive Michelle Thew says “Momentum is clearly building to ban household product testing on animals. It’s significant that so many cross-party MPs have recognized this is an issue of real concern for the public. It’s 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. The time has come for the Government to respond to the public, and their own MPs, and ban animal testing for household products”

Notes to editors

For further information please contact the BUAV press office.

The BUAV Chief Executive, Michelle Thew, is available for interview.

A Parliamentary EDM 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 licenses 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

83% of respondents said they would be concerned to learn that household cleaning products are tested on animals

(NFP Synergy survey, March 2007)

More information about the BUAV Humane Household Products Standard (HHPS) can be found on the website 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:

Press Officer Ally MacDonald 020 7619 6978

Out of hours mobile: 07850 510 955 / Email: Allyson.MacDonald@buav.org