Beginner's guide to cruelty-free cosmetics

When will the law be changed?
The UK banned animal testing for cosmetics in 1998 and in November 2002 the EU voted to ban animal testing for cosmetics to come into force from around 2009. Until then, animal testing for cosmetics will continue around the world, so 'ethical consumers' still need to be vigilant when it comes to avoiding animal tested cosmetics. Changing the law to provide greater protection for laboratory animals is a very slow process - it has taken the EU 13 years to finally resolve the cosmetics animal testing debate, and countries such as the USA and Japan are a long way from ending animal testing for cosmetics.

Why are some cruelty-free labels misleading?
It is often difficult to differentiate between companies that do and do not test on animals. Many companies do not label their products clearly or accurately and others make confusing statements when questioned about their policy on animal testing. For example, a bottle claiming 'This product has not been tested on animals' may only be telling half the story - the final product may not have been animal tested, but the individual ingredients could have been. So even if the manufacturer claims to be cruelty-free, the ingredient supplier could have tested on animals. Chances are, you won't be able to tell that from the product label.

How can I find out about cruelty-free brands?
Looking for statements on labels is unfortunately not enough. If you want to be sure that the products you buy have the best 'Not Tested on Animals' credentials, then look for products approved under The Humane Cosmetics Standard (HCS).

The HCS is the world's only international criteria for cosmetic and toiletry products that are genuinely 'Not Tested on Animals'. It was launched in 1998 by 50 of the world's leading animal protection organisations and is currently run in America, Canada, the United Kingdom and much of Europe. By offering a single, internationally recognised set of cruelty-free criteria, the HCS helps ethical consumers avoid animal tested cosmetics and toiletries.

HCS companies must not conduct or commission animal testing, and must introduce a fixed cut-off date for ingredient purchasing throughout their supply chain. In the UK, the HCS is run by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV), which produces the Little Book of Cruelty Free. This lists all the companies currently approved under the scheme, including Tesco, The Body Shop, Barry M and Montagne Jeunesse.

For a free copy of the Little Book of Cruelty Free email info@buav.org quoting reference LBV. Alternatively, contact:

BUAV
16a Crane Grove
London N7 8NN
Visit www.buav.org Tel: 020 7700 4888
Fax: 020 7700 0252