Cruelty Free International Awards Waitrose the Leaping Bunny for its Policy on Animal Testing

LONDON, March 31, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Cruelty Free International is delighted to announce that Waitrose, one of the UK's leading food retailers has been certified under both the Humane Cosmetics and House Hold Products Standards, symbolized by the Leaping Bunny logo. The certification bolsters the Waitrose animal testing commitment (the retailer has never tested on animals) - making it clear for customers to see that all Waitrose own brand beauty and cleaning products are not tested on animals, now carrying the Leaping Bunny symbol.

     (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140502/685537 )

There is increased public awareness of the animal suffering involved in testing beauty and household products and a growing consumer market for ethical products. With 337 branches throughout England, Scotland and Wales, awarding Waitrose with the Leaping Bunny will increase the range and availability of cruelty-free certified personal care and household products on the high street.

The Humane Standards are the only globally recognised certification for cosmetics, personal care and household cleaning products which demonstrates a genuine commitment to no animal testing within a company's own-brand products. It stipulates that no animal testing is conducted or commissioned for finished products or product ingredients at any stage in manufacture or product development.

Simon Moore, Waitrose Director, Quality and Technical, said:  

"We know this is a really important issue for our customers and we have never tested on animals - or asked anyone to test on our behalf.  So we're really pleased to be working with Cruelty Free International to add their well respected and widely recognised logo onto our products."

Michelle Thew, Chief Executive, Cruelty Free International stated: 

"We are delighted to welcome Waitrose to the Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny programme and congratulate the company for demonstrating its commitment to producing its own-label personal care and household products that are not tested on animals. It sends a clear message to others that Leaping Bunny certification is both highly desirable, and also achievable."

The logo will start to appear on Waitrose products over the coming weeks and will be phased on to all own label beauty and cleaning product packaging by the end of the year.  

Waitrose joins other retailer powerhouses awarded the Leaping Bunny logo, including Marks and Spencers, Sainsbury's, The Co-operative, Superdrug and Morrisons.

Further information on Cruelty Free International Humane Standards can be found on the http://www.gocrueltyfree.org website.

For further information, please contact Martin Mallon at the Cruelty Free International Media Office: media@crueltyfreeinternational.org or +44(0)207-619-6978, +44(0)7850-510-955, http://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org

Waitrose Press Office:  jess.hughes@waitrose.co.uk or +44(0)1344-825-080