Today’s the Day – Europe’s Cosmetics Testing Ban Starts NOW
Open the champagne – it’s official: from today, no more animals will be tormented, maimed and killed for the sake of the cosmetics products on our shelves. Yes, it’s 11 March, the day that the EU Cosmetics Testing Sales Ban finally comes into force, a cause for celebration for animals, consumers and science.
So how did we get here? It’s been an epic campaign, spanning more than 20 years and including hard work by caring people determined to put a stop to the atrocities committed against animals in laboratories. There have been landmarks along the way, such as the ban on testing finished cosmetics products in Britain in 1998 and the 2009 EU ban on cosmetics testing within Europe. But this new ban closes the final loophole, by guaranteeing that neither the products we buy here nor their ingredients will have been tested on animals, inside or outside the EU. Get more details about what the ban means for you and your shopping habits here.
The new law reflects the public’s conviction that cosmetics cannot come before animals’ lives. If you helped us reach this landmark by joining a protest, sending a letter or e-mail to decision-makers, or speaking out against cruel testing in any other way, give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back. This achievement couldn’t have happened without you!
Of course, we’re not going to stop campaigning against other forms of inhumane animal testing that still go on in this country. But today is a huge boost for everyone who wants to make the world a better place. It shows that, when compassionate people work together, we can make a difference. We can outlaw cruelty. And we can save animals’ lives.
