For Immediate Release August 31, 2007
Activists Tamper With Anti-Septic Product Savlon
Huntingdon Life Sciences Customer Novartis Is Targeted
United Kingdom: In an anonymous communique received by the North American Animal Liberation Press Office, the Animal Rights Militia claims to have tampered with more than 250 tubes of Savlon anti-septic in the United Kingdom in retaliation for its maker’s role in supporting animal testing. Novartis is a known customer of notorious contract animal testing company Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), Europe’s largest such company. The Animal Rights Militia did not say how they had been damaged but it recently claimed to have injected bleach into products in France.
Thousands of tubes and bottles of the product have been pulled off store shelves as retailers scramble to protect their reputations and profits. Last night Novartis said that it was contacting all the retailers it supplies, believed to include Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s. Up to 200,000 tubes and bottles of the antiseptic are sold in the UK every week. and are stocked by all major supermarkets.
A spokesman for Huntingdon Life Sciences called the latest tactic a “distressing” new development. The withdrawal of Savlon comes three months after animal rights militants in Britain and on the Continent were arrested in the largest police operation of its kind, following a two-year investigation into a network alleged to have waged a campaign against organizations and individuals involved with animal testing.
Huntingdon Life Sciences has been exposed in five consecutive undercover investigations abusing animals, violating animal welfare regulations and killing 500 dogs, primates and other animals every day testing such products as oven cleaners and pesticides. Before losing their NYSE listing two years ago, the company had lost their listing on the London Stock Exchange, after a sustained campaign by activists who exposed atrocities occurring inside HLS facilities.
The communique reads in part:
“We don’t want to kill living beings like Novartis but the side effects and the inevitable hospital stay will give people an idea of what Novartis pays for inside Huntingdon Life Sciences. The message is clear and uncompromising Vasella, you must stop killing animals inside Huntingdon Life Sciences or this will only be the beginning of our campaign. ”
Novartis has been targeted in numerous European countries by activists aware of the company’s involvement with animal cruelty.