Ich habe Urtekram auf der Vivaness zum ersten Mal genauer unter die Lupe genommen. Wenn man sich auch die Website ansieht, dann sieht man ein wieviel Umweltbewusstsein, Nachhaltigkeit und Sorgfalt hinter dem dänischen Unternehmen steht. Und dann entdeckte ich die Präsenz von Urtekram in China. Was mich dabei verwunderte ist, dass Urtekram Produkte das Leaping Bunny Siegel tragen. Sobald ein Unternehmen in China verkauft, wird allerdings das Siegel entzogen. Ich war sichtlich verwirrt und habe bei Urtekram nachgefragt:
URTEKRAM in Denmark are producing all products sold outside China, so all sold in Austria are produced in Denmark.From Denmark we export a number of our products for the Chinese marked. These products have been registered without being tested on animals (see below). If you take a firm look at the questioner to be filled in by the authorities and also the reports documenting the registration of a product, you will see that it does not say anything about animal testing. And now for the most crucial point: The authorities test all products where they do not know the exact composition or if the product contain an ingredient they do not know in China. URTEKRAM has displayed the exact composition and before doing this assured us that all ingredients were already know in China.In respect towards the trustworthiness of the authorities I can just state that I believe our partner as our partner in China is URTEKRAM (Shanghai) Ltd where we are one of the major shareholders – and the indirect proof is that the time for getting the products approved was too short for performing animal testing.Yes I know about this about withdrawal of the certificates – actually URTEKRAM was the one who made ECOCERT take it up on the COSMOS board – the week before Vivaness – Yes we have to fill in a declaration stating that we are assuring that none of our products are being tested – actually I have assured that URTEKRAM (Shanghai) Ltd apply for the “Leaping Bunny” – so let us see what then will happen – a Chinese producing company stating no animal testing – even being able documenting it.None of our products, no matter where they are produced, have ever been tested on animals. None of the ingredients used here in Denmark has been tested on animals. All formulations (in detail!) have been laid down for assessment at the Chinese authorities – even the exact composition of our fragrances! Actually we had to adjust the fragrance used in our Nordic Birch range in order avoiding the mandatory testing they perform if a product contain an unknown ingredient (if they do not get the exact composition of a fragrance, this will then require testing of the product)The internal procedure when assessing new ingredients is as follows:1. Tested on animals after 1.1.98 – if yes rejected (I have rejected several real nice ingredients due to this restriction…..now most of my suppliers do no more present ingredients that has been tested )2. Check if it is know in China – if not it is out3. Check if OK to be used in Cosmos/Ecocert products and if any limitationsAnd then start to formulate.So please understand that we are “clean”. We have also been informed that products using the “leaping bunny” will not be tested, but it is not written anywhere, just how the authorities are interpreting the regulation.Taking into consideration that “CFDA has announced that effective June 2014, China plans to remove its mandatory animal test requirements”, I believe that the topic concerning the testing then will fade away.”So as you see we are and will also stay on the Chinese marked – and please do also recognize that this is without any animal testing at all.”
Aufgrund der sehr offenen und transparenten Korrespondenz mit Urtekrams R&D Manager und des für mich so nachvollziehbaren Prozederes habe ich mich daher entschieden an meinen Kriterien gemessen das Unternehmen als tierversuchsfrei einzustufen. Es scheint tatsächlich auch einen Unterschied zu machen, ob man als Unternehmen eine lokale Niederlassung in China hat. Die Aussagen Seitens Urtekram machen einen seriösen Eindruck (auch die extra abgeänderten Rezepturen, damit keine TV zum Einsatz kommen), allerdings bin ich mir nicht sicher inwieweit den chinesischen Behörden zu vertrauen ist (obwohl ich extra nach der eingeschätzten Vertrauenswürdigkeit gefragt habe). Ich stufe das Unternehmen Urtekram hiermit tierversuchsfrei ein, allerdings eingschränkt aufgrund der Marktpräsenz in China, die mir nach wie vor ein mulmiges Bauchgefühl hinterlässt.(Last update 05/2014)