Tobacco Testing on Animals FORBIDDEN BY LAW

Actions will continue until the laboratory is closed down.

Since October 2007, the Coalition AntiVivisection have conducted a campaign against the Philip Morris animal testing laboratory in Haasrode/Leuven. Thanks to our constant campaigning against this laboratory and the support of politicians, the council of ministers has now decided to abolish these tests.

The Coalition AntiVivisection do not understand, however, why in this declaration it is stated that Philip Morris gets a transitional period of 2 years.

Earlier the Leuven town governing board refused an extention of this laboratory for ethical reasons (which was a first for Belgium) thanks to our actions. This was a clear message that this laboratory has no place in Belgium.

We know that Philip Morris has lobbyed hard to politicians such as Open VLD over the past few weeks weeks to continue their inappropriate tests. Make no mistake that the Coalition AntiVivisection will not wait 2 years. We will continue further actions until we get this laboratory shut down as soon as possible.

The Coalition AntiVivisection is the only animal right organisation in Belgium which has been fighting this powerful company for months. We have always said that this useless laboratory where 6,000 animals are killed every year in tobacco tests will be closed down. We will not rest until this becomes a reality!