Does BUAV approved differ from a product claim of ‘not tested on animals’?
Animal testing is often carried out on a range of products from cosmetics through to detergents.
There has been a legal ban on testing finished products and ingredients on animals in the UK since 1997 and on testing finished products on animals in the EU since 2004.
However a company could label a product as ‘not tested on animals’ even though the ingredients used to make the finished product have been tested on animals outside the UK.
Or a company could state that it does not test on, or endorse testing on, animals, but this would not prevent it from buying ingredients from suppliers who do.
Cosmetics
The law is slightly stricter for cosmetics as opposed to other types of products.
From 11 March 2009 it became illegal to:
- test cosmetic ingredients on animals anywhere in the EU
- sell or import into the EU, any animal tested ingredients to be used in cosmetics or finished products (the sales or 'marketing' ban)
However there are some types of animal tests that are exempt from the sales or 'marketing' ban until March 2013. Also this ban does not prevent companies importing finished products that have been tested on animals outside the EU.
(Reference: BUAV Cosmetics Briefing. The EU Ban and what it means: Now, 2009 and 2013)
BUAV approved
In contrast the ethical standard label BUAV approved provides a guarantee of a cruelty free option where neither the product nor its ingredients have been tested on animals. Look for BUAV’s Leaping Bunny logo on products.
For more information please see the BUAV Go Cruelty Free website
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