Many cosmetics and household products are needlessly tested on animals. Every year, millions of rabbits, dogs, mice, rats and guinea are tortured in eye-irritancy tests, skin-irritancy tests and lethal dose tests which are supposed to determine the so-called safety these products. Some of these tests often involve dripping concentrated substances such as shampoo or floor wax into the exposed eyes of immobilized rabbits. Or rubbing oven cleaners into the raw, shaved skin of guinea pigs or mice. Or forcing toxic chemicals through tubes into the stomachs of cats and dogs. The animals that survive are either recycled for more tests or killed without a thought. The irony is that many of these tests do not even help prevent or treat human illness or injury. Besides, there are many alternatives that do no involve animal cruelty, such as chemical assay tests, human skin patch tests, human cell cultures, and computer models. Of course, manufacturers could also use ingredients that have already been proven to be safe.
The Humane Cosmetics Standard
In 1996, an international coalition of animal protection groups from Europe and North America , including the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) launched the world's only internationally recognised scheme that enables consumers to easily identify and purchase cruelty free products. This scheme is known as:
1. The Humane Cosmetics Standard (HCS)
A company approved by the HCS, or Leaping Bunny scheme no longer conducts or commissions animal testing for its cosmetics and toiletries products.
2. The Humane Household Products Standard (HHPS)
A company approved by the HHPS, or Leaping Bunny scheme no longer conducts or commissions animal testing for its household products. Household products include a whole range of items including bleach, washing-up liquid, laundry detergent, furniture polish and air freshener.
Look for the following “leaping bunny” Humane Cosmetics Standard logo on products to ensure that they are cruelty free!
HCS-approved cosmetic/toiletries brands available in Singapore: Burt's Bees
( Sunny Choice Organic, 44 Upper Bukit Timah Road , The Rail Mall).
Dermalogica
(available at Leonard Drake Skin Care Health Spa, branches at: Causeway Point #B1-19; Centrepoint #05-09/10/11; Century Square #02-21/22; Compass Point #02-01/02; Harbourfront Centre #02-108/109; AMK Hub #B1-51E; West Coast Plaza #02-14).
Dr. Bronners
(available at Pharmaplus, Camden Medical Centre, 1 Orchard Boulevard; Guardian, Vivo City; Guardian, Jurong Point 2 #B1-27/28; Nature's Glory Essentials Pte. Ltd, 315 Outram Road #11-03, Tan Boon Liat Building; Bud Cosmetics Singapore, #01-66 Square 2,10 Sinaran Drive; Sunny Choice Organic, 44 Upper Bukit Timah Road, The Rail Mall).
EO Products
( Changi General Hospital pharmacy). Freeman Cosmetics (some branches of Guardian/Watson's).
Jason Natural Cosmetics
(Sunny Choice Organic, 44 Upper Bukit Timah Road, The Rail Mall; VivoMart,VivoCity; some organic stores).
L'Occitane En Provence
(stores at Centrepoint #02-05; City Link Mall #B1-13; Ngee Ann City #B1 33A; Peranakan Place 178 Orchard Rd; Takashimaya Dept Store 391A Orchard Rd; Vivo City #01-10).
Marks and Spencer
(stores at Centrepoint #02-50; Paragon #03-33/40; Parkway Parade #01-35; Plaza Singapura #02-16/20; Raffles City #02-01; Vivo City #01 – 46; Wheelock Place B1#01-62).
Montagne Jeunesse
(some branches of Guardian/Watson's).
Nature's Gate
(Guardian stores, including at Jurong Point 2 #B1-27/28 ; Holland Road Shopping Centre #01-10/11; Pharmaplus, Camden Medical Centre, 1 Orchard Boulevard; Sunny Choice Organic, 44 Upper Bukit Timah Road, The Rail Mall, Fairprice Finest, #B1-01 & B2-01 Bukit Timah Plaza, No.1 Jalan Anak Bukit).
Neal's Yard RemediesSuki
(available at Pharmaplus, Camden Medical Centre, 1 Orchard Boulevard).
The Body Shop
(stores nationwide, click here).
W.S. Badger - Badger Balm
(available at Bud Cosmetics Singapore, #01-66 Square 2,10 Sinaran Drive; Guardian Jurong Point 2 #B1 27/28).
HHPS-approved household product brands available in Singapore: Seventh Generation
(available at VivoMart at VivoCity; Paragon Market Place; Sunny Choice Organic, 44 Upper Bukit Timah Road , The Rail Mall).
Take Action!Please show your desire for cruelty-free products by choosing these recognised cruelty-free brands. Send a strong message to retailers and companies that continue to test products on animals- Let them know that you will only buy cruelty-free through your shopping choices!
Write and let supermarkets and shops know that you would like to be able to buy products from HCS and HHPS- approved companies. Politely ask them to stock more HCS and HHPS-approved products.If you see any other HCS or HHPS- approved products on sale (with the leaping bunny logo) please do let us know which product/s you see and where (shop name, location). Contact mailto:amy@acres.org.sg
