The Body Shop have partnered with Cruelty Free International to start a petition to end animal testing on cosmetic products in the UN.
Over the years researchers say that at least 115 million animals may be used in experiments worldwide each year. Mice, hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, dogs, cats, pigs, sheep, monkeys - suffer from torment because they are taking part in various scientific experiences. Scientists infect them with viruses, manipulate their DNA, fertilize, later kill a pregnant mother to be able to work on the foetus, starve them to learn the endurance of the body, apply chemical agents to their skin and eyes, force them to eat toxic substances, cause paralysis, subject them to radiation or a high temperature.
The development of science should not take place at the expense of the weaker, voiceless beings with an inability to defend themselves. Albert Einstein one said a true sentence: “Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty”.
Since 11th March 2013 the European Union banned testing cosmetics on animals. Regulations also prohibit the import or sale of that kind of cosmetics. However, European Commission left the opportunity to circumvent the ban.
In exceptional circumstances, when "serious safety concerns" arise from an existing cosmetic ingredient, a Member State may ask the European Commission to apply a derogation from the prohibition. The introduced ban also applies only to new products and their ingredients.
Unfortunately, there are still products in our stores that have been tested on animals. The ban also does not apply to medicines, dietary supplements or the chemicals themselves.
Science proves that animal testing of cosmetics does not make much sense due to interspecies differences between them and humans. There is no logical and reasonable justification for carrying out animal testing. That is why more and more cosmetics corporations are working on alternative methods, for example, experiments on human cells and tissues, such as fragments of the epidermis or individual cells. In addition, the laboratory for alternative animal tests, which is recognised throughout the European Union, confirmed that these methods are effective.
Cruelty Free International, based in London, is investigating and exposing the sad truth about the life of animals in laboratories. In cooperation with The Body Shop, they organised a petition against cruelty to animals around the world. “We want 8 million signatures to take to the UN to get animal testing in cosmetics banned” their banner preaches. Currently, they have over 4,700,000, but they need more signatures to achieve their goal and bring an end to the needless suffering.