Household Product Testing Ban Imminent - as General Election Candidates Back BUAV's Call to End Cruel Animal Tests

LONDON, April 28, 2010 - The BUAV, the UK's leading organisation campaigning to end animal
experiments, is set to finally secure a ban by the new Government on the
cruel use of animals to test household products.

In the run up to the Election, the BUAV has sent a questionnaire to all
parliamentary political candidates from the main parties to gauge their views
on animal research, including household product testing. So far over 435
candidates have responded with an overwhelming 98% of them agreeing that
household products should not be tested on animals. This response mirrors the
support the BUAV has gained from all major political parties.

The BUAV's high profile and successful political and public campaign,
'Clean Up Cruelty' aims to eliminate the cruel and unnecessary use of animals
in the testing of ingredients for household products such as washing-up
liquid, bathroom cleaner, floor polish and air fresheners. Major high street
retailers are increasingly responding to public concern about this issue and
signing up to the BUAV's Humane Household Product Standard (HHPS) - the only
internationally recognised scheme that enables consumers to easily identify
and purchase household products whose ingredients have not been tested on
animals. All household products made by the Co-operative and Marks and
Spencer have been approved under the HHPS. This clearly illustrates that it
is unnecessary to test on animals to manufacture and sell safe and effective
household products.

In 1997 the UK government made a small amendment to policy which
instantly saved thousands of animals from suffering in needless cosmetics
testing. The Clean up Cruelty campaign aims to do the same for household
products.

Michelle Thew, Chief Executive of the BUAV said: "After many years of
campaigning on this important issue, the BUAV is delighted to receive the
support of so many parliamentary political candidates to bring an end to the
use of animals in the cruel and unnecessary testing of household products. We
look forward to a ban being implemented by the new government."

For a list of BUAV approved products please visit
gocrueltyfree.org/

For more information please contact Carla Owen at carla.owen@buav.org or
Tel: +44(0)207-700-4888; after hours, +44(0)7850-510-955. www.buav.org

For more information please contact Carla Owen at carla.owen at buav.org or Tel +44(0)207-700-4888; after hours, +44(0)7850-510-955.