Frequently Asked Questions
What is your animal testing policy?
We have been practising the bio-dynamic cultivation of medicinal plants since 1935 and therefore have a great deal of experience in the use of natural resources and the conservation of the natural world. We have always tried to organise our processes and procedures in such a way that they cause as little harm as possible to the world in which we live.
This means, of course, that we will not perform or commission animal testing on any of the Dr.Hauschka Skin Care products. This has been the case since before 1973 - our Fixed Cut Off Date. The raw materials and manufacturing processes are selected in such a way that the products can already be tested safely on human volunteers. We also consider this form of testing to be more relevant and informative than tests on animals.
Recently, some companies have been offering a so-called 'Free of Animal Testing' label to raw materials that have not been tested on animals, however, these companies are still referring to animal testing done by other producers. For the sake of honesty, we do not wish to advertise our products as 'Free of Animal Testing' knowing that there are problems with the interpretation of this statement.
We have not applied to be entered on to any lists of organisations promoted by animal welfare organisations because we use the red colouring, carmine (from the cochineal insect), for which there is no natural alternative. The synthetic alternatives suggested by animal welfare organisations are out of the question for producers of natural skin care.
In our view, the protection of animals is only one aspect of a much larger problem. We deliberately refer to the community in which we live (the entire eco system) rather than the environment, because we believe that it is important to respect the living relationships between all parts of the whole organism, earth. Through our support of bio-dynamic agriculture and our choice of substances and manufacturing processes, we endeavour to contribute to the conservation and care of nature as a whole and the relationships between its constituent parts, including animals.
