On top of being a fantastic actress, True Blood‘s Kristin Bauer van Straten (Pam) has also been very vocal about her support for various animal and environmental causes. She is now urging the European Union (EU) to uphold a ban on using animals for cosmetic testing that is set to start in 2013. There has been concern that even though the legislation has already been passed, the implementation of the ban may be delayed, and the True Blood actress is speaking out about this. In a letter to John Dalli, the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, she urges the EU to stay on track with the 2013 date and speaks up for consumers who she believes want to purchase products that were made without harming animals. In addition she also has a link on her website to PETA’s list of companies which test products on animals and Kristin refers to it as ”Companies That Are Mean To Animals”. You can visit the link to be sure that you do not support any of those companies. Below is a copy of her letter in support of the ban, in its entirety.
Aug. 11, 2011
Commissioner John Dalli
European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy
European Commission
B – 1049 Brussels
BelgiumDear Commissioner Dalli:
No animal should suffer and die to test lipstick or eye shadow. That’s why I’m writing to urge you to keep the European Union on the path to modern, innovative cosmetics testing. Please maintain the EU’s 2013 deadline for banning the marketing of animal-tested cosmetics.
Here in the United States, many cosmetic companies have stopped using animals in such tests, but others need incentive to make progress. The EU’s 2013 deadline sends a strong message to companies in Europe and America—and around the world—that it’s time to move away from inhumane animal tests and toward better, more human-relevant methods for testing cosmetics and other products.
Keeping the ban on track will also motivate companies worldwide to continue developing and implementing new test methods. These nonanimal methods are more accurate and cheaper than animal tests, in addition to being humane. That’s why the governments of Belgium, Austria, and Sweden recently reiterated their support for the EU’s 2013 deadline.
Most EU consumers oppose animal testing and want to be able to buy makeup, shampoo, and other cosmetics products without having to worry about animals being hurt or killed to develop the product. I join the many EU citizens and others worldwide who are concerned that delaying this ban will cause many thousands of animals to suffer and die to test blush and body lotion.
Please keep the 2013 deadline in place to encourage innovation in alternatives development.
Sincerely,
Kristin Bauer
Source: PCRM.org – Actress Kristin Bauer Encourages EU to Keep Deadline for Ban on Marketing Animal Tested Cosmetics
Photo Credit: Access Hollywood