Makeup brand Urban Decay pulls out of China but animal testing still on the increase in UK

Cruelty-free beauty brand Urban Decay will not be exporting its products to China after pressure from consumers shone the spotlight on its ethics.

The company faced a huge backlash on Twitter and Facebook when it was revealed that it was considering selling its cosmetic products in China, going against its cruelty-free stance.

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The Chinese government stipulates that animal testing on either ingredients or a finished product must take place before it will be sold in the country.

“After careful consideration of many issues, we have decided not to start selling Urban Decay products in China,” said a spokesman for the brand.

“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.”

Urban Decay’s spokesman added that it hoped China would embrace cruelty-free testing in the future so it could offer its products to consumers there.

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The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) campaigns against animal testing in China and welcomed the move by Urban Decay.

“We are delighted that Urban Decay has refused to sell cosmetics in China until the requirement to test on animals is lifted," said the BUAV Chief Executive Michelle Thew.

“The BUAV is working hard to ensure that the animal testing requirement for cosmetics sold in China is ended as soon as possible.”

But it’s not just an issue in China.

Government figures released this week shockingly reveal that animal testing in the UK is at an all time high.

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Despite the coalition’s pledge to abolish the testing of household products on animals in its manifesto, statistics from the Home Office reveal that animals are continuing to be tested on for this type of goods.

There were 3.79 million tests conducted on animals last year, which works out at more than 10,000 experiments each day, up 2 per cent on last year.

Good on Urban Decay for sticking to its guns (and listening to its social media fans).

For a full list of cosmetic brands that are certified under the Humane Standards, visit the Go Cruelty Free website.

Do you know which brands test on animals? Does it influence you when you're choosing which cosmetics to buy?