Our achievements
With a history spanning over 110 years, the BUAV has fought some hard-won battles and achieved much for animals in laboratories. But there is still a long way to go to create a world where nobody wants or believes we need to experiment on animals.
Here are some examples of our more recent successes:
2009:
- Following years of campaigning by the BUAV, the UK government pledges to end the cruel use of animals to test household products.
- BUAV's undercover investigation at Wickham Laboratories exposes shocking animal cruelty, including for the first time, the appalling suffering inflicted on mice for the worldwide craze of using botox products, and major failings by the UK government.
- The banning of cosmetics testing on animals within the European Union comes into effect. For nearly two decades, the BUAV and sister organization, ECEAE, has spearheaded the campaign across Europe to achieve this important ban.
2008:
- A BUAV investigation into the trade in primates for research in Cambodia and our compelling footage of wild monkeys torn from the wild receives extensive international media coverage.
- Marks & Spencer became the first high street retailer to guarantee it sells only BUAV Approved ‘cruelty free’ household cleaning and beauty products. They were approved under the BUAV’s world-leading Humane Cosmetics and Household Products Standards.
- The Malaysian Government announced its intention to reinstate the ban on exporting macaques for purposes including research after a campaign led by the BUAV with European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE).
2007:
- Following a BUAV investigation at Cambridge University, we won a great victory in the first stage of our legal battle. The Government was found guilty in the High Court of turning a blind eye to the substantial suffering of animals in Home Office licensed experiments and consequently misleading the public over the extent of animal suffering in UK laboratories.
2006:
- After a complicated and hard-fought five year campaign, Europe’s 'REACH' legislation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances) incorporates a large proportion of the BUAV's campaign aims, potentially saving millions of animals from chemicals testing.
2004:
- A major BUAV investigation at the contract testing companyCovance in Germany uncovers the appalling reality for primates used in toxicity testing
2003:
- Following vigorous campaigning and intervention by the BUAV and sister organisation the ECEAE, the EU agrees a Europe-wide ban on cosmetics animal testing - this will come into effect in a phased process ending 2013.
2002:
- A BUAV investigation exposes animal suffering at Cambridge University. This leads to extensive national news coverage and legal action against the Government, challenging its application of the law on animal experiments.
2001:
- A UK ban on the LD50 oral toxicity test which were used routinely to poison groups of animals until 50% of them died.
- The BUAV brings a legal action against the Home Secretary for failing to direct researchers to use humane non-animal methods in the production of 'monoclonal antibodies' using mice. The Home Secretary settles the case out of court, pays all legal fees and ensures that these "unnecessary animal tests" (their words) no longer occur.
1998:
- A BUAV investigation exposes, for the first time, the sickening trade in breeding beagles for the research in the UK.
1997:
- Following years of campaigning by the BUAV,the UK Government bans the testing of cosmetics on animals.
1996:
- The Humane Cosmetics Standard is launched by a coalition of international animal protection groups, including the BUAV - 140 companies sign up in the first year alone.
1995:
- The UK Government bans the import of wild-caught primates into the UK for research thanks to the BUAV's Paradise Lost campaign.
