Cosmetics

Eurogroup welcomes the EU ban on animal testing on cosmetics

ABOUT THE ISSUE

For determining the safety of cosmetic products they had in the past been tested on animals. However, the pain, distress and suffering caused to animals used in cosmetics tests cannot be justified.

Thousands of previously tested cosmetics ingredients are already available to companies and consumers and these existing safe ingredients can be used and reformulated without the need for further testing. A complete ban on the use of new cosmetics ingredients tested on animals will not affect the safety of consumers

WHAT IS THE CURRENT SITUATION

After several postponements, the EU cosmetics Directive 2003/15/EC introduced fixed deadlines for phasing out tests of cosmetic products on animals. The final ban on marketing and testing of cosmetics on animals came into force in March 2013.

WHAT ARE WE CALLING FOR

• The proper implementation and enforcement of the ban on the use of new cosmetic ingredients and products tested on animals and the marketing ban on cosmetics testing on animals.
• Other countries to follow the example set by the EU and adopt laws which ban the use of animal testing for cosmetics
• Continued funding for the research and development of alternative non-animal methods