Many companies, including some very big, well-known brands will make bold statements on their websites claiming categorically to be against animal testing of any kind.
But, their products are tested on animals. They know it, they agree to it, and they pay for it to be done.
Persil for example (and this is just one example), have a whole page dedicated to their commitment to ending animal testing: here.
They say: “We’re working towards a future where there’s no more animal testing. Anywhere. Because we know there are enough ways to make sure that products are safe without it.”
Persil, however, sell their products in mainland China where animal testing is required by law. Persil may not carry out animal testing themselves but by deciding to sell their products in mainland China, they are agreeing to Chinese authorities carrying out horrific tests on animals before their products are sold to consumers. There’s more about China’s animal-testing policy here.
Companies like Colgate say they are “committed to work towards the elimination of laboratory safety testing using animals” and that it is “necessary to maintain the option of using animal tests … when we cannot find other appropriate means to ensure the safety of our consumers and our people”. As China currently do not consider there to be another ‘appropriate means’ of testing to ensure the safety of products, Colgate apparently have no other option than to fund and agree to animal testing. Obviously, there is an alternative… not selling their products in China. This is designed to shift the blame away from themselves to make us believe that they are not responsible when their products are tested on animals. I’d imagine there’s also a hope that people will read the first sentence on their page (which happens to be in big letters) and believe that the company is cruelty-free.
Another phrase that is commonly used is something along the lines of “we do not carry out animal testing of any kind unless it is required by law” giving the impression that it is completely out of their control and there is nothing they can do about it. Again, this typically means that they are selling their products in mainland China and therefore either their finished products or individual ingredients, will have been tested on animals.
Unless certified as cruelty free, brands may test on animals, either themselves, through their supplier or through a third party. Find out more about how to see if a brand is cruelty-free here.
