Other manufacturers of tea beverages have also already spoken out against animal experiments, such as ITO EN, the leading manufactorer of green tea, and the producers of the brands Twinnings, Teekanne and TeeGschwender. The Unilever presse release contains a pledge to the goal of ending animal experiments via investment in alternative methods. Until now, the properties of teas were tested on pigs, rats, mice and rabbits in contentious animal experiments in terms of animal rights, despite their not being mandatory by law. European and US regulatory bodies only allow claims regarding possible health health benefits on the basis of clinical studies on humans.
Source: http://unilever.com/