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.

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:

« Europe’s leaders often trumpet how brilliant the EU’s cosmetics animal testing bans are – and how they were ground-breaking and a model for the world. However, we know that more and more animal testing is being required by regulators for ingredients in cosmetics, against the wishes of European consumers and cosmetics brands. But we can all stand up and say that we want our bans back and we want them strengthened. How? By signing the Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics European Citizens’ Initiative at www.savecrueltyfree.eu. We have the power! »

Reineke Hameleers, CEO of Eurogroup for Animals, added:

« Non-animal approaches to ensure the safety of cosmetics and other consumer products have been routinely used in the EU for decades. There is no reason to test ingredients on animals when advanced non-animal assessment strategies are available and offer reliable alternatives to animal testing. With this ECI, we call on the European Commission to commit to actions that can ensure the protection of human health and the environment by managing chemicals without the use of animals, and to invest in human-based, non-animal approaches for regulatory decision-making. »

Muriel Arnal, President of One Voice, concluded:

« Millions of animals suffer in Europe in laboratories. For nine years, we have seen how safe and how possible it is to buy and use cosmetics products that are not tested on animals. Other methods exist to guarantee their safety and effectiveness. History and progress go in the direction of genuinely stopping, or certainly progressing in, animal experimentation, and this must begin as soon as possible. It is important to sign the ECI to ensure that we do not take a step backwards. There is no more time to lose for animals in laboratories. »

Sign the ECI to put an end to animal testing

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

ECI Cruelty Free Cosmetics

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

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