Nine years after EU ban on selling cosmetics products tested on animals, they will once again be dying in the name of beauty
On 11 March, Cruelty Free Europe (for which One Voice is the French representative), Eurogroup for Animals, and GAIA, all Animal Protection NGOs, will not be happily celebrating the ninth anniversary of the European law preventing the sale of all cosmetics products tested on animals, as chemical products rules look set to render European laws meaningless.
On 11 March, Cruelty Free Europe (for which One Voice is the French representative), Eurogroup for Animals, and GAIA, all Animal Protection NGOs, will not be happily celebrating the ninth anniversary of the European law preventing the sale of all cosmetics products tested on animals, as chemical products rules look set to render European laws meaningless.
Yesterday, on 10 March 2022, the associations held a vigil for the cosmetic animal testing bans near the European Commission headquarters and the Council in Brussels. The French street artist Ckeja joined them and painted live throughout the event.
Despite huge public support for the bans [1], cruel animal tests are now being required by European authorities, including on ingredients used solely in cosmetics. Proposals to extend the scope of chemical safety legislation under the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability look set to massively increase the amount of regulatory animal testing taking place in Europe, including tests for cosmetics’ ingredients, namely make-up, shampoo, moisturiser, soap, perfume and toothpaste.
A study carried out in 2021 by the European Centre for Alternatives to Animal Testing found that, based on the data in the EU’s chemicals database, 63 chemical safety assessment dossiers had used the results of new animal testing for cosmetics risk assessment, with this number looking set to increase as the European Chemicals Agency carries out more reviews. This is testing that has taken place since the bans [2] came into place.
Kerry Postlewhite, Director of Public Affairs of Cruelty Free Europe, stated:
Reineke Hameleers, CEO of Eurogroup for Animals, added:
Muriel Arnal, President of One Voice, concluded:
Notes:
[1] 74% of adults in EU Member States agree that animal testing for cosmetic products and their ingredients is unacceptable in all circumstances. Savanta ComRes survey for Cruelty Free Europe, July 2020
[2] As well as the 2013 ban on the sale of all cosmetics products tested on animals, the EU had previously banned the testing of cosmetics products on animals in 2004, and the testing of cosmetics ingredients on animals in 2009
Translated from the French by Joely Justice