A registered mark: we describe it in words and do not reproduce it.
Leaping Bunny (cruelty-free)
The brand has a fixed cut-off date after which neither it nor any of its suppliers or manufacturers may conduct, commission or be party to animal tests; runs a supplier monitoring system; is open to independent audits of that system; and renews its commitment every year. Approval is for the whole brand, not for single products.
Who awards it
Cruelty Free International runs the Leaping Bunny approval programme; in the US and Canada it is operated by the American Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS) using the Standard approved by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC).
What it does not certify
It does not certify that a product is vegan: Leaping Bunny accepts products that contain animal-derived ingredients and says of itself ‘we are not a vegan certifier’. It does not certify anything about ingredient safety, natural or organic content, or the environment — it is about animal testing only.
This page explains what a symbol or mark on the pack means in law or in the scheme’s own rules. It is not advice on whether a product or an ingredient is safe for you or suits your skin: for that, read the product’s warnings and ask a pharmacist or doctor.
- What it looks like
- A registered logo of a leaping rabbit, used under licence by approved brands. We do not reproduce it.
- Also called
- Leaping Bunny logo; cruelty free bunny; Leaping Bunny approved
Good to know
Testing bans such as the EU’s already forbid testing cosmetics on animals, but the Leaping Bunny page lists exceptions that remain under most bans, such as tests required by a foreign regulator. The fixed cut-off date and supplier declarations are what go beyond the law.
Other certification marks
Sources
Quoted from the scheme owner’s own published criteria, each fetched and read on the date shown. Schemes revise their criteria; the owner’s current document is the authority.
- Scheme owner — Leaping Bunny Program (operated in the US and Canada by AAVS for the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics): The Leaping Bunny Difference — Brands must ‘Adhere to a fixed cut-off date, an unalterable date after which neither the brand nor any of its suppliers and/or manufacturers may conduct, commission or be party to animal tests’, set up a Supplier Monitoring System, ‘Be open to independent audits’ and ‘Renew their commitment to the Leaping Bunny Program annually’. Checked 2026-09-26.
- Scheme owner — Leaping Bunny Program (operated in the US and Canada by AAVS for the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics): Leaping Bunny — Company FAQ — ‘Can I be certified if my products contain animal products? Yes. … we focus solely on animal testing claims … Therefore, we are not a vegan certifier.’ And: ‘We certify by brand/company, not by product.’ Checked 2026-09-26.
- Scheme owner — Cruelty Free International: Our Approval Programme (Leaping Bunny) — Cruelty Free International’s approval programme: ‘Create and implement a fixed cut-off date policy’, ‘Establish a robust supplier monitoring system’, ‘Schedule independent audits to ensure continuous compliance’, for cosmetics and personal care, household and cleaning, and animal care products. Checked 2026-09-26.