The Humane Society's campaign to end animal testing combines political and grassroots advocacy, corporate outreach and a strong science foundation to encourage government regulators and corporations to become more accepting of new technologies and alternatives to animal use.
Recognizing that animal testing is a global concern, The HSUS and its affiliates, Humane Society Legislative Fund and Humane Society International, have assumed a leading role in a number of worldwide efforts. Below are some of our current projects.
Human Toxicology Initiative
The Humane Society is actively working to end animal testing. We are campaigning on a global level to promote greater reliance on available non-animal testing methods, and are actively supporting the vision of "twenty-first century toxicology" articulated by the US National Research Council, which would involve ultra-modern, efficient and non-animal methods instead of animal tests that are decades old, costly, slow and of dubious relevance to people.
Mandatory Alternatives Legislation
There is little point investing in the development and validation of non-animal test methods if such methods are not ultimately used to replace or reduce companies' use of animals. For this reason, the Humane Society Legislative Fund has been working to pass state laws that make it illegal for a company to conduct an animal test when a scientifically validated and recognized alternative method is available.
AltTox
AltTox is a website created jointly by The HSUS and Proctor & Gamble to encourage the exchange of technical and policy information on non-animal methods, and to build an online community of professionals dedicated to advancing non-animal methods of testing.
The Dark Side of Beauty
Every year, more than 2.7 million people pay to have a powerful toxin—and potential bioterrorism agent—injected into their face. The agent is botulinum toxin, also called Botox®. It smoothes facial wrinkles, but at a high cost to animals.
Transatlantic Regulatory Cooperation
The HSUS is providing technical and political support for bilateral discussions between the United States and Europe aimed at achieving the mutual recognition of validated alternative test methods in order to expedite international acceptance and use of these life-saving technologies.
Russell and Burch Award
The HSUS presents the Russell and Burch Award to scientists who have made outstanding contributions toward the advancement of alternative methods in the areas of biomedical research, testing or higher education as a means of recognizing the important role that individual scientists can and do play in limiting the use and suffering of animals in laboratories.
International Councils on Animal Protection in OECD and Pharmaceutical Programs
The HSUS is a founding member of ICAPO and ICAPPP—umbrella associations through which animal protection organizations interact with global chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers and regulators who meet under the auspices of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) and Veterinary International Cooperation on Harmonization (VICH). All three entities publish influential test guidelines, which rely heavily on inhumane and outdated animal-based methods. Through ICAPO and ICAPPP, The HSUS seeks to promote a transition to non-animal methods.
Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics
The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics is an international federation of animal protection organizations, including The HSUS, whose goal is to urge cosmetic and household product manufacturers to sign on to our internationally recognized Corporate Standard of Compassion of Animals—a rigorous policy that ensures manufacturers and suppliers will not conduct or commission animal tests and will not use any ingredient or formulation that is tested on animals. Companies that sign the Standard may portray the coalition's "leaping bunny" logo on all of their products as proof of their commitment to the manufacturing of truly "cruelty-free" products.
