Essex MEP, Alex Mayer, will be joining Chelmsford shoppers to call for an international ban on cosmetic product testing on animals.

The Labour MEP for the East of England will visit the Chelmsford branch of the Body Shop and speak to the store's manager, Rebecca Farmer, about the campaign they are running.

Wearing 'bunny ears' along with staff members at the Body Shop, Ms Meyer will discuss the company's petition which is calling for the United Nations to adopt an international convention that will end animal testing for cosmetics products and ingredients across the world by 2020.

Ms Mayer, who is a member of the cross-party European Animal Welfare Group said: “Britain is a nation of animal lovers, so I am sure everyone in Chelmsford will want to get behind this campaign.

“Animal testing on products and ingredients is outdated, cruel and unnecessary but sadly more than 500,000 animals are used by the cosmetics industry every year. It is time that we stood up for the animals that can’t stand up for themselves and end animal testing for good. So let’s make sure the Body Shop’s campaign is a success - that will make me a happy bunny!”

Cosmetics testing on animals has been banned across Europe since 2003, but despite the widely available alternatives to animal testing around today, there are still no laws banning animal testing on cosmetic products and ingredients in 80% of the world.

The Body Shop are aiming to get 8 million signatures on their petition and have already reached over 2.5 million.

The petition can be signed here: https://e-activist.com/page/9704/petition/1