Plaid Cymru is leading a bid to ban the use of cleaning products tested on animals at Cardiff council.
Group leader Neil McEvoy has tabled a notice of motion, seconded by fellow Plaid councillor Lisa Ford to next Thursday’s full council which requests officials to report back on the availability and costs of using supplies from producers who do not test on animals.
Councillor McEvoy, who contacted the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV), which is campaigning to Clean Up Cruelty, for advice, said: “Many people will be very surprised to learn – as I was – that cleaning products are tested on animals.
“I’m aware that Edinburgh, Ceredigion and East Staffordshire are among those local authorities that have passed similar motions. I’m confident that councillors from all parties in Cardiff will support this move which, hopefully, will lead to a reduction in needless suffering by animals.
“If this motion is passed, as I expect it to, I hope it will lead to other Welsh local authorities looking into take similar action and supporting the BUAV’s campaign to Clean Up Cruelty.”
The motion states: “This Council supports in principle a proposal to only use cleaning products not tested on animals. Officers are requested to contact the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) to confirm the council’s support of this proposal in principle, and to prepare a report on the availability and cost of cleaning products from producers who do not test on animals, so that this can inform any relevant tendering exercises.”
Products free from animal testing and certified under the BUAV’s Humane Household Products Standard and carry the Leaping Bunny trademark, an internationally recognised and patented cruelty free certification. BUAV certified cruelty-free household products include those made by Marks & Spencer, The Co-op, Superdrug, Astonish, Method, Bio-D and Faith in Nature.
