Organization Delivers Animal Test Ban Petition To Asean

Jakarta, Oct 25 (Antara) - The Cruelty Free International (CFI) organization delivered a petition on Friday signed by over one million people to the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta in a bid to outlaw using animals for cosmetics testing. Cruelty Free International`s CEO, Michelle Thew, said the petition was part of a two-year campaign calling for a global ban on animal testing for cosmetic purposes. The petition was delivered to ASEAN by CFI and The Body Shop to encourage their efforts to ban animal testing in cosmetics in the Southeast Asia region. "With the fantastic support of The Body Shop, we have been able to carry out our largest global campaign to call for a ban on animal testing for cosmetic purposes. A million voices have spoken and we are more determined than ever," said Thew, as quoted in the press received by Antara here on Friday. During their campaign in Jakarta, they took advantage of Jakarta Fashion Week from October 19 to 25, 2013, when hundreds of supporters joined The Body Shop for a presentation to CFI in support of their work with ASEAN and Member Governments. Global Campaigns Manager for The Body Shop International Jessie Macneil-Brown said for over 20 years The Body Shop has proven that beauty can be cruelty free. "One million signatures demonstrate the unwavering passion from our customers as we keep fighting for this cause," she said. According to CFI, a European Union (EU) ban on animal tested cosmetics was widely celebrated in March 2013, however over 80% of the world still allows animals to be used in experiments for cosmetic products and their ingredients. While in ASEAN, there are no regulations or laws banning animal testing of cosmetic products and ingredients or the importing of those tested elsewhere. In near future, CFI and The Body Shop will be delivering the pledges to 14 governments and regulatory bodies throughout the world, said officials.