Brands FAQs
Frequency Asked Questions by Brands
Why choose Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny Certification?
The Leaping Bunny has become the globally recognised and trusted symbol for cruelty free consumer products.
Meeting our rigorous criteria will allow your brand to provide shoppers with the best assurance that you adhere to the highest cruelty free global standard. Our highly experienced team is on hand for certified companies and able to offer support for regulatory, technical and scientific animal testing questions
Post certification, brands have the opportunity to work with us to promote Leaping Bunny certification and to advocate for cruelty free cosmetics.
Will the Leaping Bunny core criteria work with my business model?
Yes, Leaping Bunny certification can be integrated with any business model, providing ethical dimensions to your overall business strategy and clear guidance at an operations level. Leaping Bunny core criteria are practical, comprehensive and measurable. The range of independent and high street brands already certified evidences this.
What makes Leaping Bunny different from other cruelty free certifications?
The Leaping Bunny is the international cruelty free certification gold standard. It requires certified brands to implement a fixed cut-off date, maintain an ongoing supplier monitoring system, check for animal testing throughout the supply chain down to ingredient manufacturer level and be open to ongoing independent audits to ensure compliance with the criteria.
We are not aware of another certification that does this. Many other ‘not tested on animals’ lists or claims are limited in scope and based on no more than simple one-off company assurances.
I am applying for another certification to demonstrate that my products are vegan/vegetarian/ organic, and they have asked me questions about animal testing. Will the same information help me to qualify for Leaping Bunny certification?
Whilst these other certifications may ask animal testing questions as a secondary consideration, the same information would not automatically qualify your company for Leaping Bunny certification. As animal testing is our sole consideration, our processes and questions are more specific, comprehensive and rigorous to ensure that all animal testing in the supply chain is declared.
Is there a fee for certification?
As we are a non-profit organisation, there is a nominal fee for certification that is dependent on turnover and starts at £65.00 per year for the smallest organisations. This fee does not represent a profit for us, but instead contributes a little towards our administration fees, the cost of licensing the trademarked Leaping Bunny logo, and the cost of auditing certified companies.
How can I get the Leaping Bunny logo?
Please complete our online form to register your interest in Leaping Bunny and request an application pack.
When can I use the Leaping Bunny logo?
A company is eligible to use the Leaping Bunny logo once they have become fully certified and licensed to do so.
Is my business eligible to use the Leaping Bunny logo if I purchase my own branded products from a certified company as my ‘manufacturer’?
No, you would need to apply for your company in order to obtain certification status and use the logo. The Leaping Bunny is a registered trademark, and only certified companies are licensed to use the Leaping Bunny logo.
Certification is non-transferable, and whilst a company may manufacturer white label products for others, it is only their own branded products that will be certified. This is because one of the core criteria of Leaping Bunny certification is the management of a brand’s own supply chain to monitor animal testing. An uncertified company has not agreed to independent audit, cannot demonstrate that all of its products are produced in line with our criteria regardless of the supplier and is free to change suppliers at any time.
Which products are included in cosmetics certification?
Leaping Bunny certification for cosmetics products includes but is not exclusive to skin, bath, hair, body fragrance, makeup, eye, teeth, ear, other personal body care and animal grooming products. It is in line with the EU definition of a cosmetic product.
Which products are included in household certification?
Leaping Bunny certification for household products includes but is not exclusive to: candles, home fragrances, polishes, de-scalers, sink un-blockers, cleaning wipes, disinfectants, washing-up liquids, detergents, floor cleaners, surface cleaners, carpet cleaners, window and oven cleaning products.
My product does not clearly fit within the definition of a cosmetic/ household product, how can I find out of it is certifiable?
Please contact us and we will help determine if your product is eligible for certification.
What counts as an own label product?
An own brand or own label product is a product manufactured specifically for a particular brand and which displays one of its trading brand/label names. When applying for certification, a company must include all of the certifiable own label products that form the brand as we do not certify individual lines or specific items. Companies must also ensure that any future certifiable products also meet the Leaping Bunny criteria.
I have not yet started trading, can I apply?
Yes, our certification is open to applications both from existing companies as well as newly-created businesses. Please be aware that in order to remain certified, a newly-created business should begin trading within a year of obtaining certification.
I would like to know more about how my business can apply for Leaping Bunny certification, what should I do next?
Simply complete our online form to register your interest in Leaping Bunny. We will then be in contact as soon as possible to discuss your interest further. As we receive a very high volume of queries for Leaping Bunny, please do allow us a minimum of two weeks to respond.
If you are an American or Canadian company, please register your interest with our partner organisation CCIC via their online form.
