A new cross-party Bill to phase out all animal testing for cosmetics and their ingredients by 2020, formally introduced to the Russian Duma last week, is hitting all the right notes with international superstar violinist Vanessa-Mae. The Cruelty Free International Ambassador, who is playing two concerts in St Petersburg and Moscow this week has voiced her support for the proposal, introduced by senior Duma Parliament members Sergei Doronin and Igor Igoshin.

The Bill is the very first of its kind in Russia and follows bans in Europe and India and similar proposals currently being considered in the USA, Canada, Brazil and Korea. The text for the Bill itself was drafted with advice from Anastasia Komagina, Russia Campaign Manager for Cruelty Free International and Anna Kogan of Big Hearts Foundation, whose input helped to develop the legislation.

Michelle Thew, CEO of Cruelty Free International, says: “This Bill is in tune with the international trend of bringing animal testing for cosmetics to an end. We congratulate Sergei Doronin and Igor Igoshin for introducing the proposal, which sets the right tone for many other countries making similar progress. The archaic practice of animal testing is falling flat with an increasing number of people worldwide.”

Vanessa-Mae said:  “I have always had a strong affinity towards animals. That is why I, and many others, long to see the day when they are no longer used as laboratory ‘tools’. The new cross-party Bill is a great opportunity for Russia to become one of the leading countries in the world for the ethical principle of no longer allowing animals to suffer for cosmetics. It follows progress Cruelty Free International has made globally since the EU ban on animal cosmetics tests, including in China, Korea and Brazil.”

Find out more about work for a global ban on animal testing for cosmetics.