... or applying it to the shaved backs of rabbits or guinea pigs and studying the irritation or damage. Animals are also force-fed or dosed with substances to assess the affects. In some cases the tests can cause suffering and even death. "The Body Shop believes cosmetics testing on animals is unethical, unnecessary and should be banned"(www.the-body-shop.com Accessed 12/4/02) However there are a number of reasons why animals are still used in cosmetic testing. These include: the demand by companies in the cosmetics industry for 'new' or 'improved' ingredients for products, and regulatory pressures in some countries to test materials such as preservatives and sunscreen filters. Nevertheless "In November 1998 the British Government announced a ban on the testing of finished cosmetic products and ingredients on animals, indeed the UK and the Netherlands are currently the only countries in the world to have introduced a full ban on the testing of ...

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