FOREVER AGAINST ANIMAL TESTING

WE WANT TO BAN THE CRUEL PRACTICE OF ANIMAL TESTING IN COSMETICS. FOREVER.

We’ve been fighting for the rights of animals since 1989. Approximately 80% of countries currently have no laws around animal testing, and together with our friends at Cruelty Free International, our Forever Against Animal Testing campaign is working towards a worldwide ban on animal tested cosmetics… forever.

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GOVERNMENTS SILENT REINTRODUCTION OF ANIMAL TESTING

We need your help to end animal testing in the UK. 25 years after the UK banned animal testing for cosmetics, we’re still fighting to stop animals suffering and dying, in the name of beauty. The UK government secretly abandoned the ban in 2019 – a fact only revealed earlier this year after a legal challenge by Cruelty Free International.

We worked hard with Cruelty Free International back in 1998 to win the full ban, and we’ve joined forces again to call for it to be reinstated in its entirety.

So, we’ve launched these limited-edition heritage tees, to raise awareness of this important campaign. Every single pound of profit will be going to Cruelty Free International, and by purchasing a tee, you could help us get the government to rethink its decision. Get yours today… when they’re gone, they’re gone.

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Forever against animal testing

WHAT IS ANIMAL TESTING IN COSMETICS?

According to Cruelty Free International, over 500,000 animals may be used in cosmetic animal testing worldwide, every single year. Alternative testing options exist that would allow neither animals or consumers to suffer, and in fact, non-animal tests are often more effective, more reliable and faster, proving that animal cruelty is an unnecessary evil. That’s why we’re fighting to wipe out animal testing in cosmetics for good, so animals no longer have to suffer for our beauty.

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What we have achieved so far

WHAT WE’VE ACHIEVED SO FAR

On October 4th 2018, World Animal Day, The Body Shop and Cruelty Free International took 8.3 million signatures against cosmetic animal testing to the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, to create a global framework to end animal testing while advancing the United Nations’ sustainable development agenda.

The celebration of these signatures is a culmination of more than 30 years of advocacy between The Body Shop, the first international beauty brand to campaign against animal testing in cosmetics, and our long-time campaign partner, Cruelty Free International, the first global, non-profit organisation dedicated to ending cosmetic product and ingredient testing on animals. The joint effort is the most ambitious campaign ever against cosmetic animal testing, and serves as a model to inspire action from businesses, governments and citizens.

The petition signatures, collected from supporters around the world in just 15 months, call on the countries of the UN to formalize an international framework to end cosmetic animal testing, everywhere and forever.

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Woman looking into microscope

HOW WE TEST OUR PRODUCTS

Our products undergo extensive testing to ensure they’re safe, effective and animal-friendly. We use three main testing methods involving computer data and laboratory-created tissues. All cosmetics companies can adopt these kinds of animal-friendly testing methods.

In-silico (computer-based) analysis uses readily available, existing data to help us to assess the suitability of similar materials through extrapolation.

2.

Laboratory-produced skin is grown from human skin cells. It allows us to conduct safety checks on cells that react in virtually the same way as human skin, without harming any people or animals.

3.

Finally, to ensure good tolerance on people, we will often test our products using patch testing. This involves placing a very small amount of product on a person's skin to ensure that it is safe and effective, usually at the final stage of testing a new formula.

4.

We will also carry out controlled user trials where people test our products for both skin compatibility and cosmetic effectiveness, under the supervision of medical experts when required.

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Cruelty Free International logo

THE LATEST FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Since presenting our petition to the UN in 2018, countries around the world are taking steps to change their policies on animal testing in cosmetics, will the full support of our local teams.

AUSTRALIA

The Australian government has ended its reliance on new animal test data for ingredients in cosmetics.

CANADA

The Canadian Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act has been brought forward for a first reading in parliament.

Find out more here

COLOMBIA

The Plenary of the House of Representatives in Colombia unanimously approved a bill to prohibit the use of animals in testing cosmetics products and their ingredients, both manufactured in and imported into the country. The bill must now go to the Senate.

TAIWAN

Cosmetic animal testing restrictions have come into force.

CHINA

Regulators have launched consultations on an animal testing waiver for imported, non-special use cosmetics. Bulldog has become the first international brand to sell in China as part of the Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny pilot programme.

VIRGINIA, USA

The Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act has passed the Senate.

Find out more here

HAWAII, USA

The Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act has passed the House and moves on to the Senate for consideration.

Find out more here

NEVADA, USA

The Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act has been signed into law!

Find out more here

ILLINOIS, USA

The Illinois Humane Cosmetics bill has been signed into law!

Find out more here

CALIFORNIA, USA

The Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act has been signed into law!

Find out more here

MARYLAND, USA

The Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act has passed the Senate moves to the House for consideration.

MEXICO

The Senate has voted to outlaw animal testing in cosmetics, as well as the manufacture, import or marketing of cosmetics tested on animals anywhere in the world after the law comes into force. The bill will now move on to the next stage of the legislative process in the Chamber of Deputies.

USA

The new federal Humane Cosmetics Act has been introduced in the US House and the US Senate, to end animal testing in cosmetics across the entire United States.

Find out more here