British American Tobacco p.l.c.

British American Tobacco p.l.c. is a global tobacco manufacturer whose core product, cigarettes, is tested on animals. The company conducts or commissions animal testing as part of its product development and regulatory compliance processes for nicotine-containing products. This activity is a direct and integral part of its commercial operations.

Cruelty Free Investors, which maintains exclusion lists based on animal testing policies, flags British American Tobacco for this practice. The company’s involvement in animal testing places it within the broad category of commercial animal exploitation.

British American Tobacco plc manufactures tobacco and nicotine products, including combustible cigarettes, heated tobacco, and vapor products. Regulatory frameworks in many markets, particularly for novel nicotine products, can require toxicological data that has historically been generated through animal testing. The company has funded and participated in the development of non-animal testing methods. In 2019, British American Tobacco, alongside other major tobacco firms, donated equipment to a laboratory focused on animal-free testing through the PETA International Science Consortium.

However, the company's ongoing product development and regulatory compliance activities for nicotine products continue to involve toxicological assessment. A 2024 study evaluating the cytotoxicity and oxidative stress of aerosol from a modern oral nicotine product was conducted on behalf of RAI Services Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of British American Tobacco. This indicates the commissioning of research that utilizes biological testing methods. While the company supports alternative methods, the requirement to demonstrate product safety for regulatory submissions in key markets maintains an operational link to animal testing.