PAUL MITCHELL REFUSES TO ALLOW CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO TEST ITS PRODUCTS ON ANIMALS

Rather than being part of a market where animal tests are required, Paul Mitchell CEO and co-founder John Paul DeJoria put sales in China on hold last year and has now told PETA’s US affiliate that Paul Mitchell will not sell products in that country in order to remain committed to the company’s cruelty-free policy.

PETA is praising hair-care giant John Paul Mitchell Systems for pulling out of China after being informed that the company would have to pay for animal tests in order to continue selling its products there.

Paul Mitchell, whose products have never been tested on animals anywhere in the world, will also receive PETA US’ Courage in Commerce Award for fully living up to its reputation as a defender of animals and an innovator in human-safety tests and for being the first corporation to stop selling its products in China in order to spare animals.

“Paul Mitchell’s decision to pull out of the Chinese market has cemented its position as a company compassionate shoppers can rely on”, says PETA founder Ingrid E Newkirk. “By refusing to compromise its ethics, Paul Mitchell is setting an example of corporate courage and responsibility that shames less ethically minded companies.”

Says DeJoria, “Since Paul Mitchell was founded in 1980, we have been cruelty-free. We do not conduct or condone animal testing on our products, and we will not attempt to market our products in China until alternatives to animal testing methods have been accepted by the government. We are honoured and encouraged to be working with China to bring about positive change. Paul Mitchell always has been and always will be cruelty-free!”

Paul Mitchell’s announcement comes on the heels of cosmetics company Urban Decay’s decision to cancel its plans to enter the Chinese market. Not all companies are as principled as these two are: Mary Kay, Avon and Estée Lauder recently changed their animal testing policies in order to begin paying for poisoning tests on animals to market their products in China.