British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection
Encyclopedia
The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) is a British animal protection and advocacy group that campaigns for the abolition of all animal experiments
. Founded in 1898 by Frances Power Cobbe
, the Irish writer and suffragette, the BUAV engages in education, research, lobbying, investigations, undercover work in laboratories, and legal cases that challenge the legitimacy of using animals in experiments. It also promotes non-animal alternatives.
The BUAV acts as the secretariat of the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE), established in 1990. BUAV's chief executive, Michelle Thew, acts as chief executive of the coalition.
during a public meeting in Bristol, England. Known at first as the British Union, or "the Union," it campaigned at first against the use of dogs in vivisection
, and came close to achieving success with the 1919 Dogs (Protection) Bill, which almost became law. In recent years, it successfully lobbied the British government into abolishing the oral test in the 1990s. The BUAV was also closely involved in the lobbying which led to the adoption in the European Union
of the 7th Amendment to the Cosmetics Directive, which will effectively ban both the testing of cosmetics
products and their ingredients on animals and also the sale of products in the EU which have been animal-tested anywhere in the world.
's REACH proposal to test tens of thousands of chemicals on millions of animals; and the use of non-human primate
s in experimentation.
The BUAV helps consumers to identify and purchase products that have not been tested on animals through its Humane Cosmetics and Humane Household Products Standards (HCS and HHPS). These are audited accreditation schemes for retail companies which confirm that neither their products nor their ingredients are tested on animals. These standards are also run in a number of European countries and in the United States. A list of approved companies is available and regularly updated on the BUAV website. It also runs a primate sanctuary in Thailand for 50 rescued macaques.
On 30 January 2008, the BUAV won a victory over the Home Office when an information tribunal agreed that experiment summaries are biased towards emphasising the positive aspects of research. The tribunal said summaries amounted to creating a "perception of a positive spin". The BUAV argues that this inevitably means any negative aspects such as animal suffering are downplayed.
The BUAV is opposed to any form of violence or intimidation in the name of animal rights or animal welfare.
in Vietnam
for experimentation in Europe and the US. Recent previous investigations include the University of Cambridge
and Covance
's contract testing laboratory in Germany. The BUAV is pursuing a judicial review
against the Home Office
as a result of its findings in the Cambridge investigation. Other investigations in 2007 have highlighted the primate trade from Malaysia and Spain
. In February 2008, the High Commission of Malaysia confirmed to the BUAV that a ban on the primate trade would be reinstated following the BUAV investigation.
Animal testing
Animal testing, also known as animal experimentation, animal research, and in vivo testing, is the use of non-human animals in experiments. Worldwide it is estimated that the number of vertebrate animals—from zebrafish to non-human primates—ranges from the tens of millions to more than 100 million...
. Founded in 1898 by Frances Power Cobbe
Frances Power Cobbe
Frances Power Cobbe was an Irish writer, social reformer, and suffragist. She founded a number of animal advocacy groups, including the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection in 1898, and was a member of the executive council of the London National Society for Women's Suffrage.Frances was...
, the Irish writer and suffragette, the BUAV engages in education, research, lobbying, investigations, undercover work in laboratories, and legal cases that challenge the legitimacy of using animals in experiments. It also promotes non-animal alternatives.
The BUAV acts as the secretariat of the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE), established in 1990. BUAV's chief executive, Michelle Thew, acts as chief executive of the coalition.
Background
BUAV was founded on June 14, 1898 by Frances Power CobbeFrances Power Cobbe
Frances Power Cobbe was an Irish writer, social reformer, and suffragist. She founded a number of animal advocacy groups, including the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection in 1898, and was a member of the executive council of the London National Society for Women's Suffrage.Frances was...
during a public meeting in Bristol, England. Known at first as the British Union, or "the Union," it campaigned at first against the use of dogs in vivisection
Vivisection
Vivisection is defined as surgery conducted for experimental purposes on a living organism, typically animals with a central nervous system, to view living internal structure...
, and came close to achieving success with the 1919 Dogs (Protection) Bill, which almost became law. In recent years, it successfully lobbied the British government into abolishing the oral test in the 1990s. The BUAV was also closely involved in the lobbying which led to the adoption in the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
of the 7th Amendment to the Cosmetics Directive, which will effectively ban both the testing of cosmetics
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
products and their ingredients on animals and also the sale of products in the EU which have been animal-tested anywhere in the world.
Focus
In recent years, the BUAV has focused on a number of new areas, including the promotion of non-animal tested products; the European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
's REACH proposal to test tens of thousands of chemicals on millions of animals; and the use of non-human primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
s in experimentation.
The BUAV helps consumers to identify and purchase products that have not been tested on animals through its Humane Cosmetics and Humane Household Products Standards (HCS and HHPS). These are audited accreditation schemes for retail companies which confirm that neither their products nor their ingredients are tested on animals. These standards are also run in a number of European countries and in the United States. A list of approved companies is available and regularly updated on the BUAV website. It also runs a primate sanctuary in Thailand for 50 rescued macaques.
On 30 January 2008, the BUAV won a victory over the Home Office when an information tribunal agreed that experiment summaries are biased towards emphasising the positive aspects of research. The tribunal said summaries amounted to creating a "perception of a positive spin". The BUAV argues that this inevitably means any negative aspects such as animal suffering are downplayed.
The BUAV is opposed to any form of violence or intimidation in the name of animal rights or animal welfare.
Undercover investigations
Among the BUAV's many undercover investigations, the most recent (September 2006) exposes the breeding and supply of monkeys from NafovannyNafovanny
Nafovanny in Vietnam is the largest captive-breeding primate facility in the world, supplying long-tailed macaques to animal testing laboratories, including Huntingdon Life Sciences in the UK and Covance in Germany.-Background:...
in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
for experimentation in Europe and the US. Recent previous investigations include the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and Covance
Covance
Covance, Inc. , formerly Corning Incorporated, with headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey, USA, is a contract research organization , providing drug development and animal testing services...
's contract testing laboratory in Germany. The BUAV is pursuing a judicial review
Judicial review
Judicial review is the doctrine under which legislative and executive actions are subject to review by the judiciary. Specific courts with judicial review power must annul the acts of the state when it finds them incompatible with a higher authority...
against the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
as a result of its findings in the Cambridge investigation. Other investigations in 2007 have highlighted the primate trade from Malaysia and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. In February 2008, the High Commission of Malaysia confirmed to the BUAV that a ban on the primate trade would be reinstated following the BUAV investigation.
See also
- Cambridge University primate experiments
- NafovannyNafovannyNafovanny in Vietnam is the largest captive-breeding primate facility in the world, supplying long-tailed macaques to animal testing laboratories, including Huntingdon Life Sciences in the UK and Covance in Germany.-Background:...
- Women and animal advocacyWomen and animal advocacySeveral writers have argued that the animal advocacy movement — embracing animal rights, animal welfare, and anti-vivisectionism — has been disproportionately initiated and led by women....
Further reading
- BUAV website
- The archives of the BUAV (ref U DBV) are held at the Hull History Centre and details of holdings on its online catalogue.
- BUAV animation
- European Coalition to End Animal Experiments