For the past two years conscientious UK pet owners have looked to the Not Tested on Animals scheme run by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, (BUAV) for information about petfood companies and their policy on animal testing. Only a handful of UK pet food companies managed to reach the high standard set by the scheme and proudly, they displayed the BUAV Not Tested.. logo on their packaging and literature.

Pet Trade magazine, Pet Business World News, (pbwnews) reports this week that the BUAV has now made a strategic decision to shelve the standard.

According to the pbwnews report, in a letter to approved pet food manufacturers, BUAV CEO, Adolfo Sansolini wrote:

"Following a strategic review, we have decided that we will not be able to continue to run our No Animal Testing Pet Food Standard."

Speaking to pbwnews, Mr Sansolini said however that he had not ruled out the possibility of reintroducing the scheme in the future and that the BUAV will continue to expose companies who continue to be involved with animal testing in the pet food industry.

The pet food companies endorsed by the scheme expressed their dismay at the decision.

Ann Shear, Europa Pet Foods, summed up the position of approved manufacturers:

"We are really quite unhappy about their decision, given our commitment in terms of packaging, leaflets and so on - but also because it is the one real, visible thing that we can promote against the 'big boys' of the industry."

Meanwhile, Leander International Pet Foods which produces the Arden Grange dry pet food range, has decided to develop its own 'Not Tested On Animals Guarantee' which, the company says: "continues on from the strict criteria that we met when the BUAV Not Tested On Animals Standard was in practice."

The BUAV has agreed to continue with a formal endorsement of the currently approved companies until early next year but will not be accepting any new applications to the scheme.

BUAV Endorsed UK Pet Food Manufacturers are:

Burns Pet Nutrition Ltd
Harbingers of a New Age
Leander International Pet Foods Ltd
NatureDiet Pet Foods Ltd
Top Number Happidog (email only)
Trophy Pet Foods
Europa Pet Foods Ltd
Fromm Family Foods


Note - not all products from all of these companies are approved. Please check the BUAV website for more detailed information.

Submitted by: Steve O'Malley      

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