Be Cruelty-Free New Zealand Welcome Labor Pledge to Ban Cosmetics Animal Testing

WELLINGTON (16 July 2014) - The pledge from the Labour party to ban cosmetics testing on animals, plus the sale and import of animal tested products, comes after a two year Be Cruelty-Free New Zealand campaign by SAFE and Humane Society International. We issue the following initial response statements:

Claire Mansfield, HSI's Be Cruelty-Free Global Campaigns Director, said: “This is welcome news that our Be Cruelty-Free New Zealand campaign has been hoping for. Labor’s commitment to ban cosmetics animal testing brings us one step closer to achieving a world where no animal has to suffer and die for the sake of beauty products. Countries that fail to address this issue are looking increasingly isolated as ending cruel and out-dated animal tests for cosmetics is becoming the norm. Political leadership like this is exactly what New Zealand needs to become the next country to #BeCrueltyFree!”

Mandy Carter, SAFE's Head of Campaignsm said: “It is great to see politicians getting behind this important issue. Thousands of people have said they want a ban in law – and now it looks like they are being listened to. No one wants to see animals suffer for the sake of a new shampoo. New Zealand’s reputation is increasingly coming under scrutiny from overseas, we’ve seen it recently with our factory farming practices. A ban would ensure that animals do not have to suffer horrific deaths for the sake of cosmetic products. Animal testing involves some of the most horrific cruelty imaginable, and there really is no excuse.”

ENDS

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