LONDON: Sir Paul McCartney has declared his support for BUAV’s No Cruel Cosmetics campaign to end animal testing for toiletries and cosmetic products sold in the EU.

Sir Paul said: “Animals should not suffer in the name of beauty. Testing toiletries and cosmetics on animals is cruel and unnecessary. Join me in signing the BUAV’s petition to ensure the sale of cruel products in the EU is outlawed by 2013. Say NO to Cruel Cosmetics.”

Despite UK and EU bans on the use of animals to test cosmetics and toiletries, cosmetic companies are still allowed to sell products within the EU that have been tested on animals in other parts of the world.

An import and sales ban on animal tested products in the EU is due to come into effect in 2013. However, concerns have arisen that there may be a delay of up to ten years for this to be implemented. In response, the BUAV has launched the No Cruel Cosmetics campaign calling for the ban to come into effect as planned in 2013.

If the ban were to be delayed, hundreds of thousands of animals will continue to die in cruel cosmetics tests for beauty products sold in the EU. Thousands of people across the EU have already signed the No Cruel Cosmetics campaign petition, including Sir Paul McCartney, to be sent to the European Parliament. You can sign the petition at www.nocruelcosmetics.org.

Michelle Thew, Chief Executive of BUAV, said: “We are delighted that Sir Paul has joined our campaign to end cruel tests on animals for beauty products.  Please sign our petition to the European Parliament at www.nocruelcosmetics.org. Together we can show there is no public appetite for animal tested cosmetics and urge the European Parliament to vote against delaying this ban”.

Celebrities, politicians, cosmetic companies and citizens of Europe are being urged to sign the Euro-wide petition.