NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
November 19, 2002

IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS CONDEMNS P&G'S HYPOCRISY ON ANIMAL TESTS

Internal Memo Exposes P&G's Agenda To Bypass EU Animal Testing Ban

Mill Valley, CA - In Defense of Animals (IDA) has learned that an internal memo sent to Procter & Gamble's CEO revealed the company's intention to bypass a European Union ban on animal tests. The memo landed in the hands of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection in June 2002, who kept it silent until the ban was voted on in early November by the European Parliament.

Industry giant, Procter & Gamble (P&G), has long been targeted for its insistence on conducting animal tests, citing consumer safety issues. At a time when many large-scale, reputable companies, such as Revlon, The Body Shop, Amway, and Mary Kay have ceased product testing on animals, P&G insists that it cannot manufacture new, safe products without animal tests.

The law passed by the EU on November 7th will impose a ban on animal tests on cosmetic products in EU countries beginning in 2009. The internal memo leaked from P&G described a strategy for how the company could continue to market its products in the EU by conducting animal tests in other countries. The memo also details a strategy for intensive lobbying against the ban, including efforts to delay the EU legislation by an additional 10 years.

"This memo gives us in black and white what we have suspected all along," said Dr. Elliot Katz, IDA's president. "In our communications with P&G, they present themselves as victim to laws mandating animal testing and lament that they must abide by the laws. But the memo obtained by the BUAV shows truly how P&G is talking out of both sides of its mouth by fighting to sustain the laws they claim are impeding them."

Indeed, the company memo circulated to selected P&G staff in June cautions how while carrying out lobbying efforts "it was important that we were successful in keeping P&G out of the media spotlight. It would be damaging to be seen as the company lobbying to test on animals, against public opinion." This is not the first time an internal memo has been leaked revealing P&G's intentions to lobby against a ban on animal testing.

IDA's Dr. Katz went on to say, "We will take this memo to the public and to P&G shareholders as well, and intensify our 12 year boycott against P&G's animal tests. We know the public is behind us in abhorring the use of animals in painful, archaic and unnecessary animal tests, and we are determined to represent them and the animals in pushing for a victory over selfish corporate interests."

Related items:
Article from the Independent News (UK)
Editorial from the Independent News (UK)
Miss Kenya boycott of P&G

In Defense of Animals is an international, California-based animal advocacy organization dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by defending their rights, welfare and habitats.

IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS
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