European Parliament Bans Animal Testing for Cosmetic Products

On 15 January, the European Parliament approved a conciliation agreement between Parliament and Council on Cosmetics for banning animal testing for cosmetic products2. This ban on animal testing and sales would start immediately where alternative non-animal tests are available, and will be followed by a complete ban six years after the directive becomes effective. After that time the use of animals in the testing of cosmetic products will end, but without jeopardizing consumer safety since alternative tests will have been developed. The other main points of the agreement reached in conciliation are:

  • “A test and marketing ban will come into effect six years after the entry into force of the directive, i.e. 2009, for the large majority of tests;

  • “For those three tests for which there are no alternatives yet under consideration a marketing ban shall come into effect within ten years after entry into force, i.e. 2013;

  • “Any prolongation of the 2013 deadline will be decided by codecision between Council and Parliament;

  • “Alternative methods of testing shall be validated and adopted at the Community level 'with due regard to the development of validation within the OECD';

  • “A ban on certain substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction;

  • “The qualitative and quantitative composition of the cosmetic product as well as information on undesirable effects on human health should be easily accessible to the public; and

  • “Enhanced labeling requirements for substances which may cause allergic reactions2.”

The ban must now to be approved by the 15 European Union member states, a likely formality following the November 2002 compromise, which saw the parliament back down on an immediate end to the animal testing3.