The website www.gocrueltyfree.org highlights products in the UK and worldwide that feature the Leaping Bunny trademark, and has been launched by the organisation to mark products that comply with its Humane Standards.
As well as being aimed at consumer, the website also targets companies wanting to comply with BUAV standards, showing them how they can fulfill the criteria and have their products listed on the website.
Step-by-step guide to Leaping Bunny compliance
On the welcome page company representatives simply click on the ‘companies’ icon, before being taken to a welcome page that details how the BUAV works and the idea behind the Leaping Bunny logo, specifically detailing the route to compliance for companies and what the benefits are.
For consumers, the website lists over 400 companies around the world that carry the standard, in turn allowing them to browse by brand, or else use the advance search function to locate more specific product categories, such as shampoo or body care.
The consumer section of the website is divided into two clear categories – cosmetic and household products – and is endorsed by leading retailers, including major retailers Marks & Spencer and Superdrug as well as cosmetics companies Liz Earle, Bulldog and Burt’s Bees.
Functionality allows precise product searches
The functionality also allows consumers to search by country, vegan or vegetarian approved products, find out exactly where to buy products, as well as offering specific product profiles.
“We are proud to present this comprehensive, global resource for cosmetics and household products which are free from animal testing,” said Michelle Thew, BUAV chief executive.
The BUAV is lobbying to have the EU’s aim to ban the testing of animals for cosmetics products, claiming that delays to enforce a total ban by 2013 could mean that the actual enforcement date could be delayed by up to ten years.
BUAV criticies EU for its efforts to ban animal testing
Back in March this year, the BUAV openly criticized the EU approach to banning animal testing on cosmetic products, by publishing a report that challenges the current state of play on the EU's attempts to ban animal testing for cosmetics ingredients.
The report details proven alternatives to animal testing on ingredients and outlines approaches already taken by various companies worldwide to avoid animal testing on any ingredients used in cosmetics.
It focuses on five key areas of cosmetic ingredient testing, including repeated dose, toxicokinetics, reproductive toxicity, carcinogenicity and skin sensitization.