EU Ban on Testing Cosmetic Ingredients on Animals

The Seventh amendment to the EU Cosmetics Directive (legislation covering cosmetics) means that from March 11, 2009, it is illegal to test cosmetic ingredients on animals for skin irritancy, phototoxicity, corrosivity, percutaneous absorption, genotoxicity, ocular irritancy and acute toxicity. It is now illegal to test cosmetic ingredients on animals anywhere in the EU and to sell or import into the EU cosmetic ingredients or products that have been animal tested after March 11, 2009, with the exception of eight other tests which are still authorised until 2013.

In 2013 animal testing will also become illegal for carcinogenicity,
 photoallergy, cutaneous allergy, toxicokinetics, reprotoxicity, teratogenesis, toxicity - sub chronic and chronig and photomutagenesis testing.

Beauty companies are concerned that there is a lack of alternative testing methods and there is no get-out clause for the industry because testing of ingredients on animals is prohibited regardless of whether or not there is an alternative testing method available. 

For two decades BUAV animals rights group BUAV’s sister organisations in the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE) has spearheaded the campaign across Europe to get the ban implemented. 

Michelle Thew, Chief Executive of the BUAV said “This is an historic occasion and a significant step forward for animals in laboratories. The BUAV has campaigned for nearly two decades to achieve this important ban across the European Union. We are delighted that it has finally come into force. We will now continue our global campaign to seek an end to the appalling suffering inflicted on animals in the name of beauty worldwide.”

Although the ban is in place there are still numerous cosmetic products available in high street stores containing ingredients that have previously been tested on animals. To ensure products are cruelty free look for the leaping bunny logo, a symbol of BUAV’s Humane Cosmetics Standard. 

The Humane Cosmetics Standard Leaping Bunny logo is internationally recognized and trade-marked cruelty-free certification. Approved companies must open up their supply chain to a rigorous, independent audit. The robust but straightforward process ensures that neither the product, nor, crucially, any of its ingredients have been tested on animals at any stage of the manufacturing cycle since a company’s fixed cut off date. 

BUAV are now turning their attention to the global beauty industry as although animal testing on cosmetic ingredients is almost entirely banned in the EU, it is still authorised in other countries. It is also still legal to test household products and their ingredients on animals. BUAV is campaigning to end this cruel practice too. 

Sources: Cosmetics Design and BUAV