Last month, popular cosmetics company Urban Decay made a controversial decision to widen their reach to China, which requires products to be tested on animals. Not only did the decision cause disapproval among the company’s consumer’s, but it also cost them their Leaping Bunny certification.
In an attempt to clarify the announcement, Urban Decay addressed followers on their Facebook page, stating,
To all our UDers: We have decided to sell Urban Decay products in China. Because of China’s policies, this has upset some of our loyal fans who are also animal rights activists. For complete information, please visit www.urbandecay.com/chinainfo. We are listening to all of your feedback and questions, and will try to address every single one of you. We do want to address one FAQ: No, Urban Decay will not test on animals in China. However, the Chinese government may conduct a test using our products before they can be sold there. We absolutely realize that for many of you, it makes no difference who is doing the testing. But, animal rights are still very much important to Urban Decay, and our decision was a thoughtful one. Changes are already happening in China, and we will give our all to help advocate alternative methods.
Last Friday, however, Urban Decay revoked their decision and are not making the move to China, according to VegNews. In a statement on their website, the company said, “While several factors were important in reaching this decision, ultimately we did not feel we could comply with current regulations in China and remain true to our core principles.”
They also talked about their need “to step back,” and truly analyze their plan to expand abroad. The company realized that they value their ideals regarding animal testing and animal cruelty, and wanted to continue to uphold those standards, “Since our founding in 1996, we have been committed to ending animal testing in the cosmetics industry….Urban Decay is proud to be 100% cruelty-free.”
In response to the change, The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics’, in charge of the Leaping Bunny Program, decided to re-institute the company’s cruelty-free certification. MarketWatch reports CCIC Chair Sue Leary’s acknowledgment of consumers’ part in changing Urban Decay’s decision, “This wouldn’t have happened without all the compassionate consumers who protested the company’s move into China. Clearly, there is a substantial market segment that makes buying decisions based on a company’s position on animal testing. Companies ignore that at their peril.”
Leary also added that the CCIC is “very happy with Urban Decay’s decision and appreciate that they came through with what we needed for recertification.”
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