The BUAV, the UK's leading organisation campaigning to end animal experiments, is set to finally secure a ban by the new UK government on the cruel use of animals to test household products.

In the run up to the election, the BUAV has sent a questionnaire to all parliamentary political candidates from the main parties to gauge their views on animal research, including household product testing.

So far over 435 candidates have responded with an overwhelming 98 per cent of them agreeing that household products should not be tested on animals. This response mirrors the support the BUAV has gained from all major political parties.

The BUAV's high profile and successful political and public campaign, Clean Up Cruelty aims to eliminate the cruel and unnecessary use of animals in the testing of ingredients for household products such as washing-up liquid, bathroom cleaner, floor polish and air fresheners.

Major high street retailers are increasingly responding to public concern about this issue and signing up to the BUAV's Humane Household Product Standard - the only internationally recognised scheme that enables consumers to easily identify and purchase household products whose ingredients have not been tested on animals.

All household products made by the cooperative and Marks and Spencer have been approved under the HHPS. This clearly illustrates that it is unnecessary to test on animals to manufacture and sell safe and effective household products.

Michelle Thew, chief executive officer of the BUAV, said: "After many years of campaigning on this important issue, the BUAV is delighted to receive the support of so many parliamentary political candidates to bring an end to the use of animals in the cruel and unnecessary testing of household products. We look forward to a ban being implemented by the new government."