I got a reply from P&G.
Thanks for contacting Procter & Gamble about product safety testing. I'm happy
to share some information about our program.
The finished formulations in our non-food and non-drug products are no longer
tested on animals. We've been able to reach this milestone by working with
other companies, universities, and respected animal rights groups to develop
non-animal alternatives and get these alternatives accepted by government
agencies that review product safety.
Our investment of nearly $160 million in alternatives is a good one: the use of
animals is avoided and alternatives usually cost less and take less time. Even
when we come across a totally new ingredient or technology we're able, in most
cases, to use existing safety information and non-animal tests to prove safety.
If we come across a situation when even the most advanced alternatives available
can't prove the safety of a new ingredient, we may have to rely on a minimal
amount of animal research to make sure the ingredient is safe for human use. In
these rare times, we design the tests to minimize stress to the animals. All
animals are under the care of a veterinarian and our labs consistently exceed
the standard of care set by the American Veterinary Association.
I appreciate your interest in this important issue. For additional information
about product safety testing, alternatives progress, and government regulations,
you might visit the following websites:
http://www.pg.com/about_pg/science_tech/
animal_alternatives/category_main.jhtml (P&G site)
www.biorap.org (Biological Research for Animals & People)
altweb.jhsph.edu/ (Alternatives to Animal Testing site)
www.fda.gov (Food & Drug Administration site)
www.epa.gov (Environmental Protection Agency site)
www.hsus.org (Humane Society of the United States site)
http://www.ampef.org/ (Americans for Medical Progress Educational Foundation)
Shawnna
USA P&G Team
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