Actor Oscar Nunez Joins Cruelty Free International in Urging US to Match Europe in Ending Cosmetics Testing on Animals on Second Anniversary of EU Ban

SACRAMENTO, California, March 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Oscar Nunez, perhaps best known for his role as accountant "Oscar Martinez" on the US version of hit television comedy series The Office, has teamed up with Cruelty Free International to call on the US to match the EU in ending cosmetics testing on animals.

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"I am proud to join Cruelty Free International in urging the US to end cosmetics testing on animals," said Oscar, who posed for a photo shoot along with his rescue dog Gus.

This week marks the second anniversary of the historic ban on the marketing of new animal-tested cosmetics in the EU which went into full effect in March 2013.

Oscar joins the star of the original UK version of The Office, Ricky Gervais, in supporting Cruelty Free International. As Cruelty Free International ambassador, Ricky starred in the organization's global campaign launch video.

Monica Engebretson, Cruelty Free International's North America Campaign Manager, said: "We are delighted to have Oscar's support to help us raise public awareness of this ugly side to the beauty industry. It's time for the US to match global pressure on this important issue."

In addition to Europe, India now has testing and sales bans in place while Brazil, New Zealand and South Korea recently made significant strides toward ending animal testing via legislation or policy decisions. Vietnam has agreed to end eye and skin irritation tests and there has been promising changes in China's acceptance of non-animal tests for regular cosmetic products manufactured domestically.

Media notes:

Alternative methods are tests using simple organisms like bacteria, tissue or cells from humans (in-vitro tests), and sophisticated computer models or chemicals (in-silico and in-chemico tests). Such tests are usually cheaper, faster and more predictive for humans than the now antiquated animal tests first developed over 70 years ago when product testing was in its infancy.

Cruelty Free International is the only organization solely campaigning for a global ban on animal cosmetics testing.  With offices worldwide, it works with governments, regulators, companies and partner organizations, placing the issue of animal testing on the agenda of many governments for the first time.

Other celebrities to support Cruelty Free International include, Peter Dinklage, Norman Reedus, Sir Paul McCartney, Alicia Silverstone and Bob Barker.

Monica Engebretson [email protected]  +1-916-800-5735

SOURCE Cruelty Free International