UK government vows to end animal testing for household products

The UK's new Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government has included a promise to ban the testing of "household products" on animals in its "programme for government", which was published today. It has also promised to reduce the use of animals in "scientific research".

The promises have been welcomed by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection which has campaigned to eliminate the use of animals in the testing of ingredients for household products such as washing-up liquid, bathroom cleaner, floor polish and air fresheners (CW 29 April 2010). BUAV chief executive Michelle Thew said if such a ban is introduced she believes it would be the first national ban in the EU, although Germany has some restrictions on animal testing for detergents.

The BUAV has established the Humane Household Product Standard (HHPS), which it says is "the only internationally recognised scheme that enables consumers to easily identify and purchase household products whose ingredients have not been tested on animals". All household products made by retail chains the Co-operative and Marks and Spencer have been approved under the HHPS.

• UK coalition government's programme for government
• BUAV news release