Meeting at the European Commission on the Save Cruelty-Free Cosmetics ECI

Picture copyrights : European Union, 2023

This is the first step of the ECI process after the collection and verification of the authenticity of European citizens’ signatures at the European Commission.

Spokespeople from European animal defence organisations at the helm of this ECI, Cruelty Free Europe and the ECEAE (two coalitions that One Voice is a member of), HSI Europe, Peta UK, and Eurogroup for Animals have therefore presented the three main areas of requests from our side to five senior officials and their teams. Thierry Breton, European Commissioner in charge in particular of the domestic market, and Vera Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission and in charge of respect for the values of the European Union and transparency, as well as the general directors in charge of Research and innovation, the domestic market and the industry, and the Environment, listened very attentively to our statement and asked questions. The audience of commissioners and directors seemed to be very attentive to our presentation.

The first focus: the protection of the ban on testing cosmetics on animals

The three pillars that were the subject of a specific development were cosmetics testing, our wish to protect the European directive obtained after a long battle, and banning testing these products on animals once and for all.

The second objective: asserting laboratory animals’ voices by revising the law on chemical products

The second pillar was a warning on testing chemical products. In fact, the European Green Deal 2.0 could have the major adverse effect of increasing testing and thus creating an immediate and drastic increase in the number of animals used. The revision of the regulation relating to classification, labelling, and packaging (CLP) modifies the directive in relation to dangerous substances (67/548/CEE (DSD)), the one relating to dangerous preparations, (1999/45/CE (DPD)), and the (CE) nº 1907/2006 (REACH) regulation. Yet, as defenders of nature and animals, we support this Green Deal against chemical industries and their pollutant products, while insisting on a reduction in the number of animals tested upon. We therefore think that a third way is possible between these two positions (environmental or industrial associations).

In fact, we are calling on our partners who defend nature not to forget the animals that are already out of sight in laboratories. We have pleaded with the Commission for any new test required to be done so with non-animal methods, (a little like the American law that has just been voted in) in order to respect the spirit of the European Directive, in particular with regard to the 3Rs, calling to reduce their number in European laboratories. While, since the enactment of this directive, the figures have stagnated dismally, they will surely increase!

The third point raised: progressively leaving animal testing behind with real steps

We showed the members of the European Commission who were present that a winning societal perspective on three levels can be achieved: a winning solution for animals themselves (and this is the point of our ECI), where the reliability of science (and therefore health) can be envisaged, and where the industry would also win due to the development of new methods and therefore a new market. For this, deadlines and goals must be set to be achieved in steps because, in this respect, good intentions are no longer enough.

At present, the Commission is analysing our initiative. They have until 25 July 2023 to give their official response. Between now and then, a hearing has been set at the European Parliament for which the date has not yet been set.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice