The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics & The
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Copyright 2007. No quotation or citation without attribution. 1 IR/PS CSR Case 07-08 The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics & The Leaping Bunny Logo By: Stephen Crowe GRADUATE SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND PACIFIC STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO Prepared for Professor Peter Gourevitch Edited by Jennifer Cheng, MPIA 2008 Corporate Social Responsibility Winter 2007 Abstract: This paper investigates the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics’ (CCIC) Corporate Standard of Compassion for Animals and its Leaping Bunny logo. Both devices seek to simplify the numerous claims relating to animal testing for consumer products and cosmetics, and establish a standardized definition of these practices as well as a commitment against them. CCIC formed in 1996 and the logo made its debut in 1998; today more than one-hundred companies have adopted the Corporate Standard, with some going beyond and adopting the logo as well. Copyright 2007. No quotation or citation without attribution. 2 Table of Contents I. Animals in Society .................................................................................................................3 II. Animal Testing & The Animal Testing Industry................................................................4 III. Cosmetics, Personal Care Products, Household Products & Testing...............................8 IV. CCIC & The Bunny..........................................................................................................11 V. Targets & Effectiveness .....................................................................................................12 VI. Final Remarks...................................................................................................................16 VII. Discussion Questions .......................................................................................................18 VIII. Bibliography ..................................................................................................................19 Copyright 2007. No quotation or citation without attribution. 3 I. Animals in Society The relationship between man and animal is as old as humanity itself. Animals provided clothing for our ancestors, food for their families, and were instrumental in establishing agriculture, thus providing the basis for civilization itself. Centuries of social practice and the human superiority complex have always drawn a line between the value and role of animals and humans. Certain animals, namely dogs and cats, have been fortunate to attain the elevated status of human companions (and in many cases even royalty), but the majority of animals are still seen as lesser creatures and objects to be used rather than individuals with rights. Today they are still used for their traditional inputs of agriculture and clothing, but have taken on the exploitative, industrialized role of commercial goods and test subjects. We must remember that the line between human and animal is nebulous; war, slavery, genocide, cruelty, and abuse demonstrate humanity’s capacity for savagery and draw into question the superiority on which we base our treatment of animals. As civilization has progressed, man’s awareness of his world and his impact on it have changed accordingly, as have his moral and ethical standards. Predilection for environmental protection, organic food, corporate regulation, and consumer product labeling are all examples of our increasing awareness and willingness—or at least recognized need—to take responsibility for our actions. It is in this context that the developed world has begun to reevaluate and affect change in its treatment of animals, one of the most integral elements of society. Through this essay I will attempt to illuminate the efforts of the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CICC) to create a corporate standard and labeling system that standardizes the Copyright 2007. No quotation or citation without attribution. 4 definition of animal testing for consumer and cosmetics products, and attempts to regulate against it. II. Animal Testing & The Animal Testing Industry The primary purpose behind using animals as test subjects lies in the desire to evaluate products or procedures that are intended to be used by humans. A portion of animal testing involves products that are intended for animals themselves, or to study animal behavior (unrelated to behavioral studies that are intended for extrapolation to humans) but these are minor parts of the overall practice. Animal testing of all kinds can be broken down into five primary categories under which specific types of tests fall. Pure Research Drug Testing • Mutagenesis • Metabolics • Chemical/Radiation Effects • Toxicity • Behavioral • Drug Efficacy • Breeding – Evolution & Genetics • Reproductive Function, Embryonic Toxicity, Carcinogenic Potential Applied Science • Medical Devices • Genetics & Disease • Naturally Occurring Disease Cosmetics, Personal & Household Products (CPH) • Xenotransplantation • Final Product/Ingredients Tests • Irritancy Tests Military Testing • Safety Issues • Weapons Testing • Toxicity Of these categories, drug testing and medical research often garner the greatest amounts of support from the public, as they can be thought of as necessary evils for the advancement of mankind. Within the United States, much of the animal testing within this field is not performed voluntarily by pharmaceutical or biotech companies, but is mandated by the Food and Drug Administration. Development of new drugs is heavily regulated by the FDA. The Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act permits the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation to require extensive toxicity Copyright 2007. No quotation or citation without attribution. 5 testing on animals before being allowed to enter the clinical trial phase.1 Common required tests include: • Acute (short-term): 7 to 20 rats + dogs or primates • Subchronic (14-180 days) toxicity: rats + dogs or primates • Chronic (lifetime) toxicity: 120 rats + 32 dogs or primates • Cancer causing effects: 400 rats + 400 mice • Toxicity to reproductive systems - Segment I (reproductive toxicity in 2 generations): 2500 rats - Segment II (birth defects): 900 rabbits + 1300 rats - Segment III (peri- and post natal effects): rats • Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and pharmacological interactions, of active ingredients • Specialty studies - Genetic toxicity: 80 hamsters/mice x 2 to 5 separate studies - Immune system toxicity: 32 rats - Skin/eye/mucosal irritation: 3 rabbits per test Medical testing on animals has few boundaries. Animals are repeatedly infected with deadly viruses and bacteria, injected with chemicals and vaccines, have their organs removed and replaced with the organs of other animals, used to demonstrate medical techniques, and are in a position to suffer abuse and pain throughout. Interestingly, animal tests have proven again and again to poorly imitate human physiology and reaction. The FDA itself recently reported that 92 out of 100 drugs that successfully pass the animal testing stage fail during the human clinical phase.2 Why such tests continue is difficult to hypothesize. Perhaps America’s overly-litigious society forces the government and companies to cover all avenues of human injury; perhaps adopting alternate testing methods is not an endeavor many are willing to take unless they are forced. What is certain is that an enormous industry exists around animal testing. Vivisection is a sizeable industry. In the United States more than 1100 regulated testing facilities and a further 4000 distributors, transport companies, dealers, etc. employ tens of 1 StopAnimalTests.com, “U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),” [www.stopanimaltests.com/us-fda.asp] 2 Ibid. Copyright 2007. No quotation or citation without attribution. 6 thousands of people. Testing is also carried out in Canada, Europe, and Japan.3 The specific types of animals subject to testing include mice, rats, dogs, cats, fish, primates, horses, pigs, chickens, insects and more. In North America, Europe, and Japan it is estimated that between 50 and 115 million animals are involved in animal experimentation each year. Specific numbers are impossible to obtain as mice, rats, and birds, which make up 80-90% of all animal test victims are not covered by the US Animal Welfare Act and do not need to be counted.4 Nearly all animals used die as a result of the experiments, or are euthanized. Obtaining animals for experiments is done through a network of class A and B dealers. Class A, supplying 50% of test subjects, sell animals that have been purpose bread for the animal testing industry.5 Class B distributors supply “random source” animals and their sources are more questionable. They purchase from auctions, and source animals from pounds and shelters that would otherwise euthanize un-adoptable animals. There are allegations that these people have stolen animals from owners, or take them from individuals who place “free to a good home” advertisements.6 Animal rights groups are quick to point out these incidents, while institutions that use animals in testing downplay such occurrences as much as possible and allude to “strict” regulations that they feel prevent such undesirable activity. 7 Testing equipment—and animals—are available from distributors, most notably Animal Lab Magazine, which provides anything from mice to restraint devices to tools and monitoring equipment.8 3 Animal Care Publications, “Facility Lists,” [www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/publications.html]