CANADA: Canada’s pet lovers and their animals delivered the largest petition in more than 70 years designed to convince the Government of Canada to ban the sale and manufacture of animal-tested cosmetic products in Canada. Organized by The Body Shop, in partnership with Cruelty Free International, the march and signature petition-drive demand that Canada join the European Union, Israel, India, Turkey, Israel, Norway, Iceland, Serbia and Switzerland, which have enacted similar legislation.


“We are very proud that our staff and customers have taken up this cause,” said Toby Milton, general manager, The Body Shop Canada. “We hope Parliament and the Government of Canada sees this as proof that the time to act is now. No animal should be harmed in the name of cosmetics. The practice is outdated, cruel and unnecessary.”


According to the Clerk of Petitions in Ottawa, the largest federal petition on record was submitted to then MP John Diefenbaker to support the creation of Canada’s Bill of Rights in 1949. It had 625,510 names signed to it. The Body Shop’s petition to ban cosmetic animal testing has 630,542 Canadian signatures from across the country.


“Cruelty Free International has been working with governments around the world to phase out animal testing for cosmetics,” said Monica Engebretson North America campaign manager for Cruelty Free International. “We know firsthand that industry, consumers and animals all benefit from an end to animal testing for cosmetics. The time is right for Canada to take this step.”