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1973 started off BUAV
• The BUAV brings the use of animals in cosmetics tests to public attention for the first time in the UK, encouraging people to shop cruelty-free. -
During the 1980s
• The BUAV launches the popular ‘Choose Cruelty Free’ campaign with a colourful campaign bus which travelled the country on a national tour to spread the word. -
During the 90's
• The BUAV establishes the European Coalition to End Cosmetics Tests on Animals (now the ECEAE) with leading animal protection organisations across Europe, specifically to call for a ban on the cruel use of animals to test cosmetics in Europe.
• This sets in motion a high-profile campaign right across Europe. -
During the 90's
• The 6th amendment to the Cosmetics Directive includes legal provisions aimed at ending animal testing for cosmetics products.
• The BUAV and its European partners organise an historic international rally in Brussels attended by MEPs and thousands of supporters arriving in coaches from around the continent. The march is the highlight of two years of intensive political and public campaigning, and culminates in a free concert with rock band The Levellers.
• The BUAV’s iconic, larger than life ‘ -
During the 90's
• The BUAV’s iconic, larger than life ‘laboratory rabbit’ Vanity tours countries across Europe to urge MEPs to vote to end animal tests for cosmetics in the forthcoming European Parliament vote. The tour attracts widespread media coverage. -
During the 90's
• The European Parliament takes an historic decision and votes to end cosmetics tests on animals throughout the European Community.
• Anita Roddick delivers sacks of postcards and petitions to Prime Minister John Major urging the UK Government, as President of the European Council of Ministers to vote for a full ban at the EU.
• The BUAV leads a delegation to meet with Minister, Baroness Denton, just three days before the crucial Council of Minister’s vote. -
During the 90's
• On 3rd November, the European Council of Ministers rejects the European Parliament and Commission proposal to effectively ban the marketing of cosmetics products and ingredients tested on animals after 1st January 1998. Instead it proposes a watered down version and throws away the opportunity to end cosmetic tests on animals. -
During the 90's
The BUAV and ECEAE oppose the Council of Minister’s proposal and continue to campaign and lobby the European Parliament and Council. -
During the 90's
• The BUAV calls for ‘no animal testing’ criteria to be included in the European Community’s proposed ‘ecolabelling’ scheme. -
During the 90's
• The BUAV protests outside the Department of Trade and Industry to highlight threats to cruelty-free labelling. -
During the 90's
• The Body Shop joins forces with the BUAV and its European Partners. Our campaign raises 4 million petition signatures (the largest-ever at the time), which Anita Roddick delivers to the European Commission. -
During the 90's
• The EU Committee on Adaptation to Technical Progress (CATP) postpones, until the year 2000 or beyond, the European ban on the marketing of animal tested cosmetics which is due to come into force on 1 January 1998. It does, however, make a declaration asking for a speedy introduction of a ban on finished product testing in the EU - the so-called '7th amendment.' -
During the 90's
• The BUAV and a coalition of international animal protection organisations launch the Humane Cosmetics Standard, symbolised by the Leaping Bunny logo. -
During the 90's
• On 20th March the BUAV and our European partners present Commissioner Bangermann with a plea to introduce the 7th amendment to the Cosmetics Directive without delay.
• On 16th November the UK Government announces a ban on the use of animals in cosmetics testing of both finished products and ingredients in the UK thanks to BUAV lobbying. -
During the 2000's
• On 5th April the European Commission betrays animals in laboratories and turns its back on the wishes of the European public. It abandons plans for a ban on the sale of animal tested cosmetics to the EU and instead proposes a ban on the animal testing of finished products in two years and a ban on the testing of ingredients three years later, with the possibility of further postponements. -
During the 2000's
• In advance of a crucial Brussels meeting of member states in November, the BUAV and its European partners launch a new campaign initiative to urge European ministers not to postpone the ban on the marketing of animal tested cosmetics. -
During the 2000's
• The 7th Amendment to the Cosmetics Directive is adopted. It contains provisions for the phased introduction of EU wide testing bans and bans on the sale of cosmetics tested on animals outside the EU. -
During the 2000's
• Less than six months later France launched a legal challenge to overturn the ban at the European Court of Justice. This was followed by a similar challenge by the European federation for Cosmetics Ingredients (EFfCI)
• The BUAV launches Go Cruelty-Free website – a website dedicated to finding non-animal tested consumer products approved under the Leaping Bunny programme. -
During the 2000's
• The 7th Amendment to the Cosmetics Directive passes into law in September.
• BUAV works with partners of the ECEAE to put pressure on their national governments to bring in animal testing bans as quickly as possible before 2009. -
During the 2000's
• On 11th March the 7th Amendment brings into force two bans, and it becomes illegal to test cosmetic ingredients on animals anywhere in the EU and to sell or import into the EU any ingredients to be used in cosmetics tested on animals after that date. However, three types of animal tests are exempt from this until March 2013 in order to allow non-animal alternatives to be validated. -
Through 2010
• It becomes clear the European Commission is considering recommending delaying the final phase of the ban for up to ten years. -
Through 2011
The BUAV and its European partners launch the No Cruel Cosmetics campaign in January, receiving support from celebrities including Sir Paul McCartney, Morrissey and Sienna Miller.
• The BUAV publishes a ground-breaking report challenging the European Commission’s assumption of the necessity of animal testing for cosmetics and details the alternative approaches available to cosmetics companies. -
During 2012
• The BUAV founds Cruelty Free International, the first organisation to campaign solely for a global ban on cosmetics animal tests worldwide.
• The BUAV and its European partners hold a day of action in Brussels, handing in our petition, hosting a breakfast briefing for MEPs, attending key meetings with official representatives from the EU Council, Commission and Presidency, and organising a flash mob choir. -
In 2013 saw the end
• On 11th March the EU finally ends the import and sale of animal tested cosmetics thanks to our years of lobbying and campaigning, and with the support of politicians, celebrities and concerned citizens.
