Our scientists have revealed that a shocking 400,000 animals a year suffer and die in controversial botox poisoning tests. The science paper Botulinum toxin testing on animals is still a Europe-wide issue published this week shows that despite the progress in humane alternatives in recent years, the number of animals used in cruel botox testing across Europe remains at record levels.

 

Although mostly used cosmetically, EU law does not define botox as a cosmetic because it is injected rather than applied to the skin. This loophole means that hundreds of thousands of mice are used and killed in the testing of botox every year. In these horrific tests mice are injected with poison before slowly suffocating to death through muscle paralysis while fully conscious.

 

Dr Katy Taylor, Director of Science and Regulatory Affairs at Cruelty Free International, says: “It is completely unacceptable that sentient animals suffer an agonizing death for a product that is widely used for cosmetic purposes, especially when a non-animal alternative is available. We urge all botox companies across Europe to end the cruel suffering and deaths of hundreds of thousands of animals by making these barbaric botox tests a thing of the past.”

 

We are now calling for a review into whether testing by companies that are not using the alternative methods should be allowed under EU law.