New EU campaign to clean up cruelty and end animal testing launches today

Major UK retailers and brands, including Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, The Co-operative and Ecover have joined Cruelty Free International to launch an EU-wide campaign to end animal testing for cleaning products.

In March 2013, after 20 years of campaigning, Cruelty Free International successfully led the campaign to end the use of animals to test cosmetics in the EU. Focus has now shifted to the use of animals to test ingredients for cleaning products such as washing up liquid, floor polish and air fresheners.

Currently in Europe, animals can still be used in cruel and painful experiments to develop household products such as laundry detergent, furniture polish and bathroom cleaners. Such experiments include toxicity tests where animals may be force-fed high doses of substances or be exposed to toxic chemicals. The effects can cause animals to suffer from vomiting, seizures, internal bleeding and organ damage. Even when the test is not fatal, animals are routinely killed afterwards.

The brands, including Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, The Co-operative, Ecover, method, Bio-D, Faith in Nature, Greenscents and Splosh are all certified under the international cruelty free standard symbolised by the iconic Leaping Bunny logo. The certification is the best assurance that a brand has made a genuine commitment to ending animal testing for its products.

A spokesperson for Marks and Spencer said:

"We care about animal welfare as passionately as our customers do. That's why M&S is proud to have achieved Leaping Bunny certification for our cleaning products, proving it is possible clean with compassion.  We support the Cruelty Free International campaign to end animal testing for household products across the EU."

Clare Burke, Country Marketing Manager UK for Ecover and method stated:

“Here at Ecover and method, we are proud to carry the Leaping Bunny logo on all our household products. We strongly believe that no animals should ever be used as guinea pigs and therefore will be supporting the Cruelty Free International campaign for an EU ban on household product tests on animals; including both ingredients and the final products. Full stop.” 

Michelle Thew, CEO of Cruelty Free International, says:
“We are delighted to receive the support of such well-known high street retailers and brands. Europe led the world in ending animal testing for cosmetics and we now call on it to do the same with household cleaners. It is time to clean up cruelty; no animal should have to suffer just so we can wash our dishes or clean our floors. We urge everyone to join our campaign and sign our petition today to help make a real difference to the lives of animals in laboratories”.

Simon Moore, Director of Quality & Technical at Waitrose said:
“We know this is a really important issue for our customers and we never test on animals - or ask anyone to test on our behalf.  We’re pleased to support the Cruelty Free International campaign to end animal testing for cleaning products in the EU.”

Cathryn Higgs, Food Policy Manager at Co-operative Food stated:
"The Co-operative is proud to have a long term relationship with Cruelty Free International having been the first UK supermarket to have our household products and ingredients certified as cruelty free. We are therefore delighted to support their calls for an EU ban on household products and ingredient tests on animals, hoping others commit to clean up cruelty."

A spokesperson for Marks and Spencer said:
"We care about animal welfare as passionately as our customers do. That's why M&S is proud to have achieved Leaping Bunny certification for our cleaning products, proving it is possible clean with compassion.  We support the Cruelty Free International campaign to end animal testing for household products across the EU."

Clare Burke, Country Marketing Manager UK for Ecover and method stated:

“Here at Ecover and method, we are proud to carry the Leaping Bunny logo on all our household products. We strongly believe that no animals should ever be used as guinea pigs and therefore will be supporting the Cruelty Free International campaign for an EU ban on household product tests on animals; including both ingredients and the final products. Full stop.”