What can be done about animal tests that are required by law?
Although animal testing of certain pharmaceuticals and chemicals is still mandated by law, the arguments against animals testing of cosmetics and household products are also valid when applied to the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. These industries are regulated by the FDA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), respectively, and it is the responsibility of the companies that kill animals in order to bring their products to market to convince these regulatory agencies that there is a better way to determine product safety.
PETA is actively working on this front by funding the development and validation of testing methods that do not involve animals and by providing input through our involvement on government advisory committees at both the national and international levels.
Companies resist progress because the crude nature of animal testing allows them to market products that might be determined to be too toxic if cell culture tests were used. Let companies know how you feel about this.