Conference misery::feline_v1

    That stinks!  I put an order in for the first time in years.  
    ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Nancy, sorry about that, I was on vacation other wise I would have
    posted this sooner.  I'm not sure what they are still testing on
    but they have stopped on somethings.  Hope it was on the things
    you ordered.
    
    Cindy

    The latest issue of PETA did say this, but just the other day, I
    got postcard in the mail from PETA saying AVON finally did just
    recently commit to stop all animal testing.  I will post the
    contents of the postcard tomorrow so that we can have the latest
    and greatest information on this issue.
    
    Donna

    I'm not toooooo upset that I ordered from AVON, I just won't order
    again until I'm sure they've stopped testing.  There's no real harm
    done - well, not to me anyway.
    
    BTW - there's a piece in Scientific American this month entitled
    "Alternatives to Animals in Toxicity Testing".  A friend of mine
    brought it to my attention as he knows this is important to me.
    If anyone wants a copy send me your mailstop.  
       Nancy

      In my latest issue of CATS magazine, which I have right in front
    of me, it says that as of JUNE 1, Avon has reportedly stopped animal
    testing of their products. Avon had pledged on April 5, to stop animal
    testing by the June 1 date. In the past year, they had cut such testing
    by 40%.
                                               Denise

    Well, I'm totally confused  ;-)  Which is right?
    

    re:.5 That is how I first found out they were going to stop animal\
    testing.  PETA wrote the same thing, that as of June 1st Avon would
    stop ALL Animal testing.  Then in the last issue of PETA they reported
    that Avon lied and said that now they couldn't stop all their animal
    test.  Peta does so much research with this that until they officaly
    state that Avon has finally stoped all testing on animals I won't
    believe Avon, or any others.

AVON and other companies that have "stopped testing" have, in many cases,
identified those toxicity tests that must be performed to defend against
lawsuits should they occur and/or please the FDA where appropriate and now
contract with another company to provide test results to them...in short, they
don't perform the tests, but the tests get done.

This information was in an article in the local paper approx. 4 months ago.

IN MY OPINION:

The real solution to ending animal-based tests for cosmetics is for the
vendors to stop creating NEW products.  The way we can help them stop is
to refuse to buy new products....The realities of the cosmetics market
is that there is very little product loyalty and the companies would go
out of business if they didn't continually create new demand by making
new products.  We force companies to be sneakier about the animal-based
tests, but no cosmetic firm is going to put a product on the market until
they KNOW there is protection from possible lawsuit.  The non-animal testing
alternatives do not offer the protection IN A LEGAL SENSE that the
animal-based tests give the vendor....in other words, if a lawsuit
occurs, alternative testing methods do not carry the same weight as animal
based tests and are considered a "riskier" option by legal resources...this
last statement is from a lawyer I know who is active in such suits.  

My experience indicates they are not as accurate....the "good" products that
I've tried have NOT been hypoallergenic, although they claim they are, and
I've been forced back to the "bad vendor" products I was using before,
Neutrogena..although animal tests are performed by this vendor according to
reports by animal-rights groups.  

If you want to find a vendor that truly does not use animal tests, look
carefully at what testing IS performed by the vendor....in most cases, you
will find the vendor is simply hiring someone else to perform the tests
that are "bad press" for the company.

    Re: hypoallergenic
    
    Have you tried Beauty Without Cruelty?  I don't have any problems
    with their cosmetics, and I have a lot of trouble with sensitivities or
    allergies or whatever it is to most cosmetics.

    FYI,
    
    Hypoallergenic doesn't mean squat.  It's like using number 4 suntan
    lotion instead of number 15 or 30.  Dermatologist tested is more
    like the number 15 or 30 suntan lotion.
    
    Kathy

    Some cosmetic companies use human volunteers to test their products
    rather than animals.  

As I mentioned in an earlier reply, I recently received a large postcard
from PETA saying that Avon has finally called off its animal tests.  This
is what the postcard says:


Dear PETA friend,

Two months ago, we gave you the news that Avon said it expected to stop
all animal tests.  Our July/August newsletter tells how Avon reneged on
that promise, and how, as the company's self-imposed deadline of June 3
approached, CEO Jim Preston announced that Avon might not be able to
halt animal testing after all.  To draw attention to Mr. Preston's changing
story, activists presented him with�� a 10-foot Pinocchio nose and really
began turning up the heat.

Well, in case you haven't heard:  on June 22 Avon issued a national news
release declaring that it finally called off its animal tests permanently.
And on June 30, on the eve of our international boycott against the
company, Revlon announced that, effective immediately, it too had stopped
all tests on animals.  These are tremendous coups, and, we believe - if
everyone works very hard - the beginning of the end of animal testing by
cosmetic companies.  Please thank Avon by calling (212) 546-6015 or writing
the company at 9 W. 57th Street, New York, NY 10019.  Thank REvlon at
(212) 527-5000; 767 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10153-0033.

We now turn our attention to two prominent targets: Gillette and Cosmair
(makers of Lancome and L'Oreal).  We will be filling you in soon on their
abuses.  This summer we are asking activists to distribute flyers about
these companies, so if you'd like to help, please write for information
or call our action line at (301) 770-8980.

And a special note of thanks to you - our members - who've kept the pressure
on Avon and supported all our efforts to stop animal testing forever!

Alex Pacheco
Chairperson, PETA