Urband Decay: Animal Testing and China

OakeyDokey

So as well as MAC Urban Decay are also going to introduce their products to China.

Here is the statement from Urban Decay

Urban Decay is going to sell our products in China. Because of China’s policies on animal testing, we know that this will not be a popular decision with some of our loyal customers. But the decision is a thoughtful one.
For 16 years, we have been committed to two key causes: women’s rights, and the fight against animal testing. Our dedication to those causes will not waver.
For those of you unfamiliar with China’s policies, the sticking point is this: the Chinese government reserves the right to conduct animal testing with cosmetic products before the products are approved for use by Chinese citizens. The government has not told us if they have exercised this right with our products. So, our brand does not test on animals, but the Chinese government might conduct a one-time test using our products. Do we like China’s policies? No…and that is really the point. Going into China was a huge decision for Urban Decay. But, we believe that change cannot and will not happen by outside pressure alone in a closed market. Change can only happen from within. When we enter the Chinese market, we will do our part to help make those changes.
When we were considering expanding into China, a group of marketing consultants told us to remove the section of our company history that describes our crusade against animal testing. “It doesn’t mean anything to the Chinese beauty customer,” they said. Of course, we refused. Our “no animal testing” policy is part of who we are, and has been since day one. The news that animal issues don’t even register with the average Chinese consumer was one of the biggest factors in our decision to go there. During Urban Decay’s infancy, we worked hard to inform consumers about animal rights in the United States and Europe. The battleground for animal rights is now in China, and we want to be there to encourage dialogue and provoke change.
We also hope to shed some light on women’s rights issues in China. As a company that caters to a female customer, this is extremely important to us. For one thing, going into China is a way for us to advance women into important professional positions. We will help grow the cosmetics industry, which primarily employs and creates career paths for women. Although workers’ employment rights are a relatively new concept there, progress has been made partially because of pressure from businesses, consumers, and advocacy groups from other countries. Based on this, our belief is that both an outside force and inside pressure for change can result in helping transform both the importance of women and animal testing policies in China. And more importantly, we hope to influence the perspective of the citizens on both of these issues.
If we don’t go to China, other companies without our beliefs will, and the culture will never change. We want to encourage a culture of consumers who care enough to buy cruelty-free products, and who view professional women as role models who influence their lives on a daily basis.
Yes, we are a for-profit company. And yes, we would eventually like to make money in China. But we don’t stand to turn a profit in China for quite a while, partially because the market isn’t quite ready to sustain an untraditional brand like ours. If it were only about the money, we would wait a few years. But our foray into this market is also about participating in an amazing time of change in China. We don’t like animal testing (and neither do the 13 dogs in our office), but we are trying to change the world… even if it is one eye shadow at a time! Sitting on the sidelines isn’t our style. We understand that you might not like our decision, but we hope you can respect it.
For any advocates or Urban Decay fans interested, Urban Decay founding partner Wende Zomnir will host a live chat on urbandecay.com to answer questions about our entry into China.

What does everyone think?

SmokeyEyes

Yeah saw this too tonight, sounds like they're trying to put a good spin on things but at the end of the day they're allowing it to go ahead!

Valentina

...the Chinese government reserves the right to conduct animal testing with cosmetic products before the products are approved for use by Chinese citizens. The government has not told us if they have exercised this right with our products. So, our brand does not test on animals, but the Chinese government might conduct a one-time test using our products.

They should really clarify this as a matter of urgency.

Also, can they guarantee it will be a one time test if it goes ahead? If these products have been used for years on thousands and thousands of people why is that not enough?

Gauge

Well, that's depressing.

Out of all the makeup brands they were a company that were always very clear and upfront about their cruelty free ethos, it was one of the things that attracted me to the brand in the first place. Whatever about MAC, I didn't expect UD to do this as well. Such a shame.

christmas2012

so basically they want to sell in china and dont give a **** about animal rights..thats the jist of it

chickenbutt

Valentina wrote: »

Also, can they guarantee it will be a one time test if it goes ahead? If these products have been used for years on thousands and thousands of people why is that not enough?

Because it's China and they play by their own rules :pac:

I kind of sped read/skimmed the whole letter, but I read it as saying that they (UD) do not and will not test their products on animals, rather that China will be testing them. So the products that you would buy in your country would not be animal tested... Or am I just missing something?

OakeyDokey

Although they still have the leaping bunny logo on their website, leaping bunny have removed them from their cruelty free shopping guide.

http://www.leapingbunny.org/color.php

OakeyDokey

Statement from Leaping Bunny...

The Leaping Bunny Program, administered by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC), regrets to inform compassionate consumers who look for the Leaping Bunny Logo that Urban Decay is no longer certified as cruelty-free by the Leaping Bunny Program. The company has notified us that they have elected to sell their products in China, which, due to animal testing requirements in that country, will cause them to be in violation of our Corporate Standard of Compassion for Animals.
Concerned individuals may be aware that animal testing requirements implemented last year in China have caused other companies, such as Mary Kay, to be removed from the Leaping Bunny list due to similar concerns. And there may be more, as CCIC continually investigates reports of companies that may be a party to animal testing in order to sell in China.
The Leaping Bunny Program sets itself apart from other cruelty-free lists by reviewing companies’ adherence to a strict no animal testing standard and removing those companies that no longer comply. “The tragedy of this is that testing cosmetic products and ingredients on animals is cruel and unnecessary,” commented Sue Leary, Chair of CCIC. The certification program remains in dialogue with companies and other experts on the issue, and supports efforts to persuade Chinese officials to accept non-animal alternative test methods.
Companies certified through the Leaping Bunny Program pledge to eliminate animal testing from all stages of product development. The company’s ingredient suppliers make the same pledge and the result is a product guaranteed to be 100 percent free of new animal testing. All Leaping Bunny companies must be open to independent audits for verification, and pledge commitments are renewed on an annual basis.

Valentina

chickenbutt wrote: »

I kind of sped read/skimmed the whole letter, but I read it as saying that they (UD) do not and will not test their products on animals, rather that China will be testing them. So the products that you would buy in your country would not be animal tested...

This is my understanding of the press release too. But IMO UD are now complicit in animal testing as they know that by entering the Chinese market there is a high possibility this will happen. They prided themselves as being cruelty free and now they are going to throw that all away for profit. It doesn't sit well with me, and I wouldn't feel right buying their products anymore. Ditto MAC. It's a great shame.

Franticfrank

I agree - throwing away your morals in the name of profit is a bad idea. As big a market as China is, find somewhere else to sell until the problem is resolved.

kandr10

It's crazy cos in the letter they say that nothing will change unless they enter the Chinese market and show them what's what. Not showing them much by bowing down to regulations that go entirely against their ethos as a cosmetics company.

Valentina

Just saw this on Facebook, Urban Decay have decided NOT to start selling in China.

UD Decides Not to Sell in China

After careful consideration of many issues, we have decided not to start selling Urban Decay products in China. 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. We know there are many progressive consumers in China who would embrace an opportunity to purchase non-animal tested products - our hope remains that we have the chance to offer Urban Decay products to these consumers someday in the future.

Following our initial announcement, we realized that we needed to step back, carefully review our original plan, and talk to a number of individuals and organizations that were interested in our decision. We regret that we were unable to respond immediately to many of the questions we received, and appreciate the patience our customers have shown as we worked through this difficult issue.

Since our founding in 1996, we have been committed to ending animal testing in the cosmetics industry. As demonstrated by the renewed support we have received from organizations like PETA and the CCIC, this principle remains at our core. Urban Decay does not test its finished products on animals, nor do we allow others to test on our behalf, and we require our suppliers to certify that the raw materials used in the manufacture of our products are not tested on animals. Urban Decay is proud to be 100% cruelty-free.

If you have additional questions, please email us at info@urbandecay.com.

Personally, I'm thrilled!

SmokeyEyes

Wow what an amazing turn around, I'd say the amount of negative publicity and feedback they got from the initial decision really clinched things for them, delighted!

They now have a happy customer back:D