India Bans Testing of Cosmetics on Animals

India is the first country in South Asia to ban the testing of cosmetics and its ingredients on animals.

Alokparna Sengupta, Humane Society International (HSI)/India’s Be Cruelty-Free campaign manager, said: “This is a major victory for countless animals who will no longer be made to suffer, and it is a proud moment for India as it becomes the first country in South Asia to end cosmetics cruelty.”

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Cosmetics Sectional Committee, chaired by the Drugs Controller General of India and is in line with the European Union’s stand.

The decision follows appeals from various quarters, including that from the National Advisory Council Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and campaigner for animal rights Maneka Gandhi, to prevent cruelty to animals.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, India, has also been campaigning to end the testing of household products and their ingredients on animals.

Any cosmetic product which carries out animal testing will face action as per provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Animal Cruelty Act. Violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act by any person or corporate manager or owner is liable for punishment for a term which may extend from 3-10 years and shall also be liable to fine which could be Rs.500 to Rs.10,000, or with both.

Dressed as Easter bunnies, three members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India protest against the use of animals in painful and archaic cosmetics tests, near India Gate in New Delhi. File Photo: V.V. Krishnan

The use of modern non-animal alternative tests also becomes mandatory, replacing invasive tests on animals. This means that any manufacturer interested in testing new cosmetic ingredients or finished products must first seek the approval from India’s regulator Central Drug Standards Control Organisation. A manufacturer will be given approval to test only after complying with the BIS non-animal standards.

More than 1,200 companies around the world have banned all animal tests in favour of effective, modern non-animal tests, but many still choose to subject animals to painful tests.

Member of Parliament Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda said, “This is a great day for India and for the thousands of animals who will no longer suffer, yet more work must be done. Our government must go a step further by banning cosmetics products that are tested on animals abroad and then imported and sold here in India. Only then will India demonstrate its commitment to compassion and modern, non-animal research methods and truly be cruelty free.”

Israel and the 27 countries that make up the European Union have implemented both testing and sales bans to bring an end to cosmetics animal suffering in their respective jurisdictions, and HSI is leading the campaign to persuade India to become the next fully cruelty-free cosmetics zone. A sales ban will prevent companies from outsourcing testing and importing animal-tested beauty products back into India for sale.

News Link:-http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-bans-testing-of-cosmetics-on-animals/article4860969.ece

Graphic Video: Justice for Disabled Borko! Punish The Man Who Savagely Beat Him In His Own Home!

“I saw this  petition  & wanted to highlight it to show how humans can be so fxxxxxg inhumane! I am horrified at this, the brutality is appalling…we have to help; it is outrageous that this is allowed to happen. Dr. George Litov is a hero in my eyes, he has to be helped!  So please sign the petition, link is at the bottom of this post.”

Bulgaria: Lynch Mob Beats Defenceless Crippled Doggy — Police do Nothing

 

A Lynch Mob and the Media staged a shameful act of barbaric abuse on a family dog and used intimidation in order to force the village Doctor, Dr. George Litov, out of his home and work, only because he is helping the strays in the village, where there is no vet and no shelter.

The TV news article in no way criticised the mob for their actions, they only blamed Dr. Litov for helping strays. The Police were called, and they did nothing. They did not even attend.

This is typical of the out of control Media in Bulgaria …The Bulgarian Journalists are the main instigators of the so-called “war against the stray dogs” this is the exact term they use in their TV shows and articles.

They are the ones who encourage the barbaric primitive acts on the defenceless stray animals and should also be held accountable for their despicable actions.

This is the 21st Century, yet Bulgaria, a member state of the European Union, does not prosecute crimes against animals and allows atrocities like these to happen unchallenged.
Why?

Bulgaria has very good, modern Animal Welfare Law (APA 2008) that forbids inhumane handling of animals and places strays under special protection.

On 14 April 2011, Bulgarian Parliament passed an amendment in the Penal Code, which criminalized Extreme Cruelty to Animals. That came onto force on 27 July, 2011. So, what is the problem then?

The problem is that Bulgaria has no enforcement body to implement the new law and therefore change cannot take place.

Bulgaria has no legitimate Zoo police with powers and Bulgarian police officers do not want to bother to investigate and take animal abusers to justice. Since 27 July 2011 we witnessed a number of extreme animal cruelty cases in Bulgaria and no criminal was caught and punished with jail term, or even with a fine.

Our complaints go unnoticed and in some cases we’ve been told to “shut up or else”.

Bulgarian animals live and die in agony! Criminals never get investigated and punished! In most cases Police laugh it off or simply do not accept their duty to protect animals.

We have now created an ONLINE PETITION, to the Government of Bulgaria and associated authorities – it is aimed not just at the need to prosecute the man who savagely beat Disabled Borko in his own home, yet also the very real need for Strict Guidelines for the out of control media.

The Bulgarian Journalists are the main instigators of the so-called “war against the stray dogs” this is the exact term they use in their TV shows and articles. They are the ones who encourage the barbaric primitive acts on the defenceless stray animals and should also be held accountable for their despicable actions.

This must STOP NOW!

Sign Petition Please:-https://www.change.org/petitions/justice-for-disabled-borko-punish-the-man-who-savagely-beat-him-in-his-own-home?utm_campaign=action_box&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition

 

1. ►► HOW TO HELP DR LITOV and LITTLE BORKO FURTHER:

   by K9 Rescue Bulgaria

   1. Sign this petition and share with your friends and contacts and ask them to take action, too.

   2. Sign the new petition started by Occupy for Animals, at:http://www.change.org/petitions/disabled-borko-s-story-part-ii-tv7-broadcast-the-truth

   3. Help us to bring a media team out to Bulgaria by contributing to their travel expenses:
   http://www.youcaring.com/mission-trip-fundraiser/borko-crippled-dog-media-campaign/55840

   4. Write more campaign letters as suggested here:
   https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=523749031016997&set=a.515428408515726.1073741830.514848058573761&type=1&theater

   We thank you most sincerely for your incredible support to Borko and his daddy, Dr Litov!

   THANK YOU ♡
   Your K9 Rescue Team
   www.facebook.com/K9RescueBulgaria – www.k9-rescue.org.uk
   www.facebook.com/DisabledBorkoNeedsHelp

 

Sheep & Cattle Still Suffer As Live Export Breaches Continue In Kuwait

An Animals Australia investigation has again found Australian sheep being illegally sold in a cruel livestock market in Kuwait, despite Animals Australia first notifying Australian authorities of breaches at this market some five months ago.

Under the new live export rules, exporters must ensure that animals remain within approved supply chains. New evidence from Animals Australia has revealed that months after our initial complaint, Australian sheep have continued to be sold and brutally slaughtered at the notorious Al Rai livestock market, in Kuwait. Animals at this marketplace are known to have their legs bound together, be stuffed into car boots, dragged over concrete slabs, and have their throats cut while fully conscious.

This footage taken in August 2012 sparked Animals Australia’s original complaint to the Department of Agriculture.

Warning Very Graphic Video

In January 2013, an investigator returned to the Al Rai market and found even more Australian sheep being offered for sale by at least 11 separate merchants.

Many admitted knowing that they shouldn’t have Australian sheep and ear tags had been ripped out or removed despite the fact that Australian sheep are clearly distinguishable from local sheep in the region. All of the merchants at the market offered slaughter onsite as an ‘after sales’ service.

The Al Rai market in Kuwait City is notorious for cruelty. Animals Australia has conducted a number of investigations there, each time documenting the brutal handling, transport and slaughter of Australian sheep. Preventing Australian sheep from being sold in such circumstances was a cornerstone of why the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System was implemented. Yet nearly one year after ESCAS came into effect in Kuwait, rules continue to be breached and animals continue to suffer.

Al Rai market was already the obvious place in the Middle East for exporters to monitor – the fact they have not done so, even after breaches were discovered, shows how little they care and their willingness to thumb their nose at government regulations. If exporters are not prepared to follow the rules they should have their export licence removed.

Please send an urgent message to your Federal MP to express your opposition to this cruel trade and demand that, while it continues, tough sanctions must be placed on exporters who fail to adhere to the rules.

Petition in link For Australian Citizens only:- http://www.animalsaustralia.org/take_action/kuwait-cruelty-continues/

Petition for other Countries:–http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/841/664/709/

Australian cattle are again at the centre of a shocking expose that is making international headlines.

Frightened animals being bashed, hit, shocked with an electric prod in the eyes and face before suffering a terrifying death… these are the images filmed by Israeli journalist and undercover investigator, Ronen Bar.Watch his interview…

WARNING: contains Very graphic images.

Published on 11 Dec 2012

WARNING: Graphic vision. YOU CAN HELP: 1) Like & comment. 2) Go to http://AnimalsAustralia.org/israel to sign an instant letter against live animal export.

Please email your Federal MP — express your opposition to this cruel trade and demand that while it continues, there must be independent inspection and oversight in importing countries. For Australian Citizens only:-http://animalsaustralia.org/israel

Live export cruelty continues

Sadly Australia is one of the biggest exporters of live animals for slaughter. In 2011 Australia exported around 700,000  cattle predominantly to Indonesia, and around 2.5 million sheep mainly to  the Middle East.

WSPA Australia works actively on this issue of live exports, and the campaign is called ‘Humane Chain’. 

During the journey animals can experience stress, heat exhaustion and extreme temperatures. Many don’t eat, are injured or suffer from disease. Despite efforts made by both the Australian Government and the live export industry to regulate the export process, tens of thousands of animals continue to die every year while being exported.

Almost half of all deaths on board sheep vessels are due to starvation because some sheep are not able to identify the unfamiliar pellets they’re given as food.

For every animal that dies, many more suffer further cruelty

Moving to the alternatives to live animal export will not only help animals, it’s also better for our economy

There are alternatives to live animal export that will benefit farmers, jobs, our economy and the animals.

According to an independent assessment (S G Heilbron, 2000) live animal export costs Australia $1.5 billion in lost GDP, $270 million in lost household income and around 10,500 lost jobs.

WSPA funded researched in 2012 that shows that northern cattle farmers could increase their income by 245% if they had access to an abattoir. It would also add $200 million to the regional economy each year and create 1300 jobs. Read the research here.

WSPA funded research in 2010 that shows a sheep processed in Australia is worth 20% more to the economy that one exported live. Read the research here.

WSPA Live Sheep Exports It’s Just so Cruel

This video shows evidence collected during WSPA’s recent investigation into the mistreatment of Australian sheep. Investigators have documented cruelty throughout the live export supply chain, from transportation on ships, through to holding yards and abattoirs in the Middle East. You can take action to help end this cruel trade by visiting http://www.humanechain.org

Petition for any Country:–http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/841/664/709/

You can watch a short video that explains the benefits of moving away from live exports and the next steps we should take here.

Halal certified chilled meat products from Australia are accepted both in the Middle East and in Indonesia. There’s no excuse to continue the live animal export trade.

Australians want an end to live animal export

Three quarters (74%), or 12.4 million, of Australians claim that they are more likely to vote for a political candidate who promises to end live animal export, according to a Longeran Poll from May 2012. 

Those animals that survive the journey arrive on foreign soil where they are no longer under Australian protection. Few  countries to which Australia sends animals for slaughter have equivalent animal welfare protection laws. Many animals will be slaughtered fully conscious.

Links Animals Australia:-http://www.animalsaustralia.org/take_action/kuwait-cruelty-continues/

Links WSPCA:-http://www.wspa.org.au/wspaswork/liveexport/default.aspx

Human Branding To Protest Animal Cruelty

ANIMAL rights activists in Britain plan to brand themselves in a painful public protest against the dairy industry.

Volunteers will line up to be scarred for life by a searing hot iron in a symbolic act against cruelty which they claim plagues the global dairy sector.

“If one person goes away and researches a vegan lifestyle because of this it will have been worth it,” demonstration organiser Becky Folkard, 34, told Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper.

“We’re taking a huge risk because so many people will see what we’re doing as extreme but in the past you had suffragettes, which was hugely controversial.”

Ms Folkard, who will not be branded herself, said two women and a man had so far volunteered to be branded, to object to the dairy industry which she described as an “animal holocaust”.

 On March 21 in London the trio will be permanently marked with the number 269, which represents the ear tag sequence on calves featured in a pro-animal film documentary.

A similar protest has already been staged in Israel, the Mirror reported.

News Link:-http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/human-branding-to-protest-animal-cruelty/story-e6freoo6-1226558573507

Lab Monkeys in Israel Get Reprieve – For Now

A recent Israeli Supreme Court decision has temporarily barred the shipment of 90 monkeys to research labs in the United States.  Mazor Farm, where the monkeys are being farmed, must now provide documentation proving it operates within Israel’s legal framework for captive animals.

Many people imagine the typical Israeli farm as a peaceful, lush, agrarian landscape.  In the case of Mazor Farm, they would be wrong.

Founded in 1991, this breeding facility for laboratory monkeys has become a primary target of Israel’s animal rights community.  Mazor Farm receives monkeys caught in the wild predominantly from the island of Mauritius.  These animals are then bred and the offspring sold to laboratories around the world for use in various types of research.  The facility currently holds an estimated 1,500 long tailed macaque monkeys.

Let the Animals Live, an Israel-based animal rights group, petitioned the Israeli Supreme Court in March, asking it to overturn a Central District Court decision allowing Mazor Farm to export 90 female long-tailed macaques to Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories in Seattle.

At issue is a subtle question of Israeli law.  Regulations permit animal export only for medical research whose goal is either to save human lives or reduce human suffering.  The Israel Nature and Parks Authority, which issues the relevant export permits, told the court it plans to reexamine whether Mazor Farm’s application met the necessary criteria.  The Israeli Supreme Court subsequently issued a temporary block of the export.

To read the rest of this news click here:-http://www.greenprophet.com/2012/05/lab-monkeys-israel/