A step forward

Today, 11th March marks the day in which new animal-tested products are finally being banned from the EU. The details of the directive are outlined here. We hope that the current and future governments will follow regulations and not allow cosmetic companies to fool us through loopholes. If you want to make sure that you buy cruelty-free items, Cruelty-free Malta has a website selling items that are certified cruelty-free. You can also like her facebook page. Select products will be sold on our stand at Uni on the 22nd, event page here. 

We have taken some comments from the person responsible for Cruelty Free Malta herself, Fiona Vella and our very own Animal Rights Coalition representative, Francesca Saliba, who has been indispensable in our plight against animal cruelty, raising awareness on animal-related issues and setting up events, as well as being an active member of our executive team.

'Today is a day worth remembering' said Fiona Vella from Cruelty Free Malta, because a ban from animal cruelty cosmetics was finalised after so many years. 'The Cosmetics Directive foresees a regulatory framework with the aim of phasing out animal testing. It establishes a prohibition to test finished cosmetic products and cosmetic ingredients on animals (testing ban), and a prohibition to market in the European Community, finished cosmetic products and ingredients included in cosmetic products which were tested on animals (marketing ban)', as stated by the EU Commission.

Animal experimentation is an unjust act on living creatures to get a product or test its compound for human gain. At least Europe made a leap forward with this legislation, which is worth celebrating. This ban will not only affect beauty products but also toiletries, soaps, toothpastes etc. Cruelty Free International is the global campaign to end animal testing for cosmetics. However it can go beyond Europe. They are calling on ' governments and regulators around the world to introduce a ban on the testing of animals for cosmetic products and ingredients. - See more

It is also important to know that animal tested products are used for household goods like washing liquids, detergents, and most importantly biological research. 'Nowadays, There are many alternatives, to choose cruelty free products and supporting the leaping bunny sign labeled on a product which justifies no use of animal experimentation' said Francesca Saliba from Greenhouse Malta. Let us help support this cause for these voiceless creatures and help Malta be more aware and wise when choosing products.

We hope that this is only the beginning of a future where animals are treated with the respect they deserve. Do your part. Choose cruelty-free and spread the word!

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Animals: The Abandoned & Abused (Part 3)

This is the third part in a Four-part article by Greenhouse Executive member Francesca Saliba, which deals with animal cruelty and what we can do to make a difference to the lives of unfortunate animals.

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Animal Testing is also a major aspect of animal cruelty. It was brought about in the late nineteenth century by testing on sheep to investigate the importance of vaccines via the germ theory. Nowadays, it is used for cosmetics and household products and so many other things which people most often ignore. Scientists can use many other methods that are beneficial and more useful to humans. Especially since animal testing can result in inaccurate data as rats, rabbits etc have physical differences which could compromise the results.

The following is a list of tests which are carried out on animals for various products: whole body testing, Short-term Toxicity, Skin Penetration, Skin Irritancy, Eye irritancy, Skin Sensitization, Phototoxicity & Photosensitisation, Mutagenicity, Carcinogenicity, Reproductive Toxicity, Teratogenicity and Finished Product Testing. Some animals are bred for testing while others, such as dogs and cats, are taken from the pounds. Mice, rabbits, guinea pigs, and monkeys are frequently used. Fish Scales are also used, for shimmery lipsticks and soaps are used from whale blubber. Many products that are used everyday can be animal tested. It all goes down to reading a bit about the product and reading the label carefully to know where your product came from and how it was made.

Other Creatures like foxes, chinchillas, beavers, bears, seals, minks, rabbits, and raccoons are all used in the fur industry. Where they are skinned alive (without anasesthetics) so the skin remains fresh and silky which is another shocking way in which animals go through an excruciating amount of pain. Cats and dogs are also used for fur in china's trade where they are bludgeoned, hanged, bled to death, and strangled with wire nooses so that their fur can be turned into trim and trinkets. They are used for the unsuspecting consumer as they are cheap and labelled as fake fur. To make these fashionable clothing, animals that may or may not be extinct are taken from their natural habitat despite everything else. Nowadays faux fur is the imitational fur that some animal right activists have, where the money goes to aiding more awareness and helping animals and that’s why it should be more promoted.

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