– by Heather Schulman
be cruelty-free
There is not a law that exists in the United States that bans testing products on animals. Product labeling that includes the words “cruelty-free” or “not tested on animals” does not necessarily mean that is true. Many of these labels may only be referring to their finished product and not to their specific ingredients. Some companies also hire outside laboratories to do their testing. The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics’ (CCIC) Leaping Bunny Program administers a cruelty-free standard. The program provides the best assurance that no animal testing has been used in any phase of product development by the company, its laboratories, or suppliers. Look for the internationally recognized Leaping Bunny logo for this assurance. The Humane Society of the United States kicked off a campaign in March of this year that enlists celebrities to pressure scientists, cosmetic industry leaders and Congress to end testing. Paul McCartney, comedian Ricky Gervais (shown left), actor Michael Vartan, music artists Ke$ha and Colbie Caillat, and actresses Daniella Alonso, Francia Raisa, Torrey DeVitto, Fiona Gubelmann and Joanna Krupa are participating in the “Be Cruelty Free” campaign. The campaign follows a move on March 11, 2013 by the European Union to ban the sale of all cosmetics tested on animals, no matter where the testing took place. Israel implemented a similar ban on January 1, 2013. Europe is now urging the United States and China, both of which have no similar bans in place, to follow suit. Sue Leary, chair of the CCIC says there are safer and more accurate methods of testing that do not involve animals. “It’s really better to use artificial human skin. It is more accurate,” Leary says. “These cells are going to react the way human skin does. If you are testing on an animal, their reaction will be different. Most of these finished products like soap, toothpaste, lotion and deodorant are so mild that you can just spread it on skin. There are even human volunteers offering to do that.” Look for the Leaping Bunny logo, (shown above) and for more information and the Cruelty-Free Shopping guide, visit www.leapingbunny.org. U
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Spring ~ 2013 THE NEW BARKER 57