Ricky Gervais - Ricky Gervais Slams Cruel Animal Testing

Ricky Gervais speaks out against the cruelty of animal testing being implemented in order for massive cosmetic companies to sell to the colossal Chinese market.

The comedian showed his support for Humane Society International Be Cruelty-Free campaign and urged people to sign the Be Cruelty-Free pledge. He slammed the law in China that required the use of animal testing before products could be sold and all the companies that still place profit above animal welfare. 'It makes me really angry that this is still going on, and it makes me particularly angry that some previously cruelty-free companies are abandoning their principles and returning to animal testing in order to profit from the Chinese market', Gervais said. 'China's cosmetics market is worth billions of dollars and virtually every major global cosmetic company is getting a piece of the action.'

A number of brands who were once cruelty free have not been removed from LeapingBunny.org (a list of cruelty-free businesses). On another note, Urban Decay were once taken from the list also, but were recently added back on after their decision not to sell to the Chinese market. 'Urban Decay has sent a very powerful message to the rest of the industry - you don't have to sell your soul in order to be a globally successful cosmetics brand', said the 'Extras' actor.

There have been suggestions, though, that China may be revising the law for animal tested cosmetics following a European law against it that will come into practise next year. Gervais said: 'Real progress is being made with getting advanced non-animal test methods accepted, and I'm sure that before too long, China will be a world leader in humane alternative techniques.'

Gervais has been a very public supporter of cruelty-free campaigns. He recently expressed his disgust to the Huffington Post about the medical research at Cardiff University where scientists sewed kittens' eyes closed in order to find a cure for lazy eyes in children. The kittens were later put down. 'I thought sickening experiments like these were a thing of the past', the humanitarian told the publication.