UPDATE: EU Court Rules on Selling Animal-Tested Cosmetics in the EU

When the cosmetics testing and marketing ban came into full force in 2013, it was meant to ensure that no cosmetics product or ingredient available in the EU would have been tested on animals. But a court case brought by the cosmetics industry sought an interpretation of the marketing ban which would allow cosmetics companies to test their products and ingredients on animals in places such as China and still sell those products in the EU.

Yesterday, the EU court ruled that only humane, non-animal methods can be used to satisfy the EU safety requirements. This will spare many animals the agony of deadly poisoning tests. But although significant, this is only a partial victory.

The ruling also allows companies to market products in the EU after they’ve been injected into guinea pigs, forced down the throats of rats, or dripped into rabbits’ eyes in China or other countries as long as the tests aren’t used to demonstrate product safety. This means companies may continue to pay for tests on animals in China, where such tests are required, and then proceed to sell those products in the EU.

For this reason, PETA urges consumers to use PETA US’ list of companies that have pledged never to test on animals anywhere in the world when shopping for cosmetics and personal care products.

PETA and our affiliates will, of course, also continue to work towards the acceptance of a humane, animal-free cosmetics testing standard around the world, educating regulators and scientists in non-animal testing methods and encouraging companies to join the PETA US Beauty Without Bunnies programme.