Leaping Bunny
The Official Standard
Companies must not conduct, commission, or be a party to animal testing of any cosmetic and/or household products including formulations and ingredients.
Requires a Supplier Monitoring System to be put in place for all supply chain evaluations.
What This Really Means
The Leaping Bunny Logo is the only internationally recognized symbol guaranteeing that no new animal tests were used in the development of any product displaying it. While many brands claim to be "cruelty-free," legal loopholes often exist—for example, a brand might not test its finished product on animals but might buy ingredients from suppliers who do. Leaping Bunny closes these loopholes. Administered by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC), the Leaping Bunny Standard requires that companies must verify their entire supply chain, all the way down to the raw material manufacturers. A key component of this certification is the "Supplier Monitoring System." A brand cannot just take a supplier's word for it; they must implement verifiable checks. Additionally, Leaping Bunny companies must recommit annually to the standard, ensuring that as they grow and release new products, they never slide back into animal testing practices. Importantly, Leaping Bunny certification also means the brand does not sell in mainland China, where post-market animal testing can be mandatory for imported cosmetics.
Checklist for Verification
- ✓ No animal testing by the company or its suppliers.
- ✓ Fixed "cut-off date" after which no testing occurred.
- ✓ Must implement a Supplier Monitoring System.
- ✓ Subject to independent audits.