EIGHTY-eight per cent of the public want to see a ban on animal testing for cosmetics and toiletries in the EU according to a survey commissioned by the RSPCA and the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV).

But at the last official count, 30,000 animals died for this very purpose, and clever labelling means that many of your readers may still be buying products tested on animals without realising it.

During National Cruelty-Free Week (July 4 to 10), we want to show them how to avoid this.

Although a product may say "Not tested on animals", this could mean that the final product has not been tested on animals, whilst the ingredients may have been. Some companies claim "We don't test on animals", and although this might be accurate, it could mean that they commission people to test on their behalf.

These, often confusing, product claims mean that its up to shoppers to actively identify which products genuinely are cruelty-free by looking for the rabbit and stars logo on the packaging or downloading the BUAV pocket guide, "The Little Book of Cruelty-Free", that lists cruelty-free cosmetics manufacturers, from www.buav.org/gocrueltyfree or emailing info@buav.org

ADOLFO SANSOLINI

Chief Executive

BUAV