Rip Van Winkle Writes EU Cosmetics Report

Last week, a report was published examining whether certain non-animal toxicity tests would be fully developed in time to replace animal tests in 2013. Why 2013? Because that’s when the EU is scheduled to ban the sale of all cosmetics and toiletries containing ingredients tested on animals. (Cosmetics testing on animals is already banned within the EU itself, but cosmetics companies that test anywhere else can still, for now, sell their products here.)

The people writing the report must have been sleeping for the last 10 or 20 years because they failed to recognise the exciting, innovative research now taking place in the toxicity testing field – science that promises to protect people and end a great deal of animal suffering soon. Much of this research is actually being driven by the 2013 deadline. Take the deadline away, and it’ll be more excuses and delays.

Testing cosmetics on animals is just as unjustifiable and unpopular now as it was back in 2003, when the 2013 EU sales ban was voted in by the European Parliament. No animal should ever suffer for the production of lipstick, mascara or shampoo, and it would be a very big mistake by the EU to ignore ethics and public opinion by proposing a delay of the deadline now. The technical report will be seized on by some to put pressure on the Europe Commission to do exactly that, and there’s a real risk that it could happen: we’re expecting a statement from the Commission in the next few months.

Please contact the Commission and let them know that any delay would be unacceptable.