Being cruelty free

Being cruelty free
18 October 2018 Body Délice
cruelty free image article

Have you ever heard about the Draize test?
This toxicity test imagined in 1944 by John H. Draize and Jacob M. Smith (two toxicologists from the Food and Drugs Administration) was developped to test cosmetics by applying the product to be tested directly in the eye of a conscious animal. The animal is then under observation for several days for signs of redness, discharge, corneal injury, itching, hemorrahging, blindness or even eye puncture.

The skin sensitization test was developped for suncreens. Basically, the animal is shaved, the sun lotion to be tested is directly applied on its skin and then it is placed under a UV lamp to see how much time is spent before the skin burns and at what burn degree.

Every year, more than 500.000 mice, rats, guinea pigs, cats, dogs, monkeys and rabbits suffer and die thoughout the world to test lipstick, mascara, lotion, shampoo, blush, nail polish…

Seriously, does that seem normal to you?
Above all when you know that several alternative methods have been developped in the past decades : artificial skin, human cells, methods with human blood or even computer models.

Fortunately, things are changing…

11th September, 2004

In 2004, the European Union banned animal testing of finished cosmetics products.

In 2009, the European Union banned animal testing of ingredients or combination of ingredients and finished products.

BUT, all the cosmetics manufactured outside the EU are not concerned nor are the ingredients tested on animals and imported in the EU.

11th March, 2009

11th March, 2013

In 2013, animal testing and marketing are definitively banned in the European Union. It is the end of animal suffering just for cosmetic reasons in EU.

These measures led to a snowball effect.

Other countries or cities decided to take measures to ban animal testing :

cruelty free countries

So, what about the United States?

On the 5th of March 2014, Congressman Jim Moran introduced a legislation to prohibit animal testing in the US cosmetics industry. Unfortunately, it was never enacted.

The Trump Administration’s position regarding animal protection is clear.
In April 2017, President Donald Trump signed a law which legalized bear hunting in Alaska. Hibernating bear, bear cubs and wolf pups are also targeted. In November 2017, he hastily halted a new federal government ruling that would have allowed hunters to bring back “trophy” of elephants killed in Zimbabwe. By the way, we all saw the pictures of Donald Trump’s sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, proudly smiling as they pose next to the dead animals they killed during a hunt in Africa…

 

But there is still hope.

On the 6th June 2017, Congresswoman Martha McSally introduced H.R. 2790 : Humane Cosmetics Act to Congress to ban animal testing for cosmetics and the sale of cosmetics tested on animals.

Until the situation has changed, be carefull of the cosmetics you are buying. Do you really think that any living being should die to allow you to wear cosmetics?

You can easily refer to the PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) website to help you classify cosmetics brands : Not Cruelty Free, Cruelty Free, Vegan, Features PETA logo, PETA mall partner.

Moreover, don’t hesitate to visit the Human Society website full of amazing stories. The Human Society of the United States is one of the association that Body Délice decided to help in 2018. Thanks to you and your purchase on our website, we can make a donation to this wonderful association >> Read more.

Finally, I would advise you to read this great article written by Ashley Piper in December 2017.

 

“The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

             Mahatma Gandhi

 

 

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