Morrisons to stop animal testing on own-brand cosmetic products

Supermarket giant Morrisons has joined other retailers in offering cruelty-free beauty and personal care products, after being awarded the Leaping Bunny mark by Cruelty Free International for its policy on animal testing.

Starting from this summer, the retailer will be able to offer customers a wide range of Morrisons-branded products that will carry the certification – set up for cosmetic goods that have not been tested on animals.

Morrisons also aims to achieve cruelty-free status for its own-brand household products. Under the Humane Cosmetics Standard, the retailer ensures that no animal testing is conducted or commissioned on either the finished products or their ingredients, at any stage of production.

Michelle Thew, CEO of Cruelty Free International, which awarded the certification, said, “We are delighted that by joining the Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny programme Morrisons has shown a real commitment to ensure that their own brand personal care and cosmetics products are free from animal testing.

“There is strong public opposition to the cruel use of animals for testing beauty products around the world and we applaud Morrisons for taking action to ensure their customers have a cruelty-free choice in store.”

Morrisons will join other retailers such as M&S, the Co-op, Sainsbury’s and Superdrug, all of which already offer own-brand, cruelty-free beauty products.

Martyn Jones, group corporate services director at Morrisons, said, “We have been clear in our opposition to animal testing for many years and I am pleased to announce that after months of work with Cruelty Free International we are now certified under the Humane Cosmetics Standard.

“This certification builds on our core values and sends a clear message to our customers that we are committed to promoting ethical standards.”

Photo: Katherine via flickr

Further reading:

Beauty bloggers call for an end to cosmetic animal testing

Solving the beauty problem

Cruelty free cosmetics: animal testing ‘largely hidden from the public gaze’

Sainsburys say no to animal testing

The Guide to Sustainable Spending 2013