Resolution on a global ban to end animal testing for cosmetics

The European Parliament adopted by 620 votes to 14, with 18 abstentions, a resolution on a global ban to end animal testing for cosmetics.

According to the Special Eurobarometer 442 survey of March 2016, 89 % of EU citizens agree that the EU should do more to promote a greater awareness of the importance of animal welfare internationally and 90 % of EU citizens agree that it is important to establish high animal welfare standards that are recognised across the world.

Loopholes enable cosmetic products that have been tested on animals outside the EU to be placed on the EU market and the products to be re-tested in the EU using alternatives to animal testing, which is in breach of the spirit of the EU legislation.

Members noted that Europe has a thriving and innovative cosmetics sector that provides around two million jobs, and is the largest market for cosmetics products in the world. The EU ban on animal testing has not jeopardised the sector’s development.

Although Members observed that in Europe the degree of compliance with the testing and marketing bans in place is very high, a lack of complete and reliable documentation in the product information file with regard to cosmetics imported into the EU from third countries where animal testing is still required remains a serious issue that needs to be tackled as a matter of priority.

The EU’s landmark ban on animal testing for cosmetics sent a strong signal to the world about the value it attaches to animal protection and has successfully shown that the phasing-out of animal testing for cosmetics is possible. Regulatory authorities and companies are asked to set up a monitoring system open to regular, independent audits to ensure industry suppliers comply with a full ban.

The resolution recalled that the animal testing ban has led to increased research efforts to develop alternative testing methods, with effects going far beyond the cosmetics sector. Significant progress has also been made on the validation and regulatory acceptance of alternative methods. The Commission, the Council and the Member States are called on to make sufficient medium- to long-term funding available for the fast development, validation and introduction of alternative testing methods for the full replacement of animal testing for key toxicological endpoints such as carcinogenicity, reproduction toxicity and repeated dose toxicity.

On an international level, Members highlighted that despite some notable legislative advances around the world, around 80 % of the world’s countries still allow animal testing and the marketing of cosmetics tested on animals.

In this regard, Members called for the:

• Cosmetics Regulation to be used as the model for the introduction at international level of a ban on animal testing for cosmetics and a ban on international trade in cosmetic ingredients and products tested on animals, to come into effect before 2023;
• EU institutions to guarantee a level playing field for all the products placed on the EU market and to make sure that none of them have been tested on animals in a third country;
• EU institutions and the Member States to include a global ban on animal testing for cosmetics as an item on the agenda of the next meeting of the UN General Assembly.

The Commission, the Council and the Member States are urged to:

• use their diplomatic networks and act with determination in every possible bilateral and multilateral negotiating forum to build a strong and broad coalition in support of a global ban on animal testing in the cosmetics sector;
• facilitate, promote and support the conclusion of an international convention against the use of animals in cosmetics testing, within the UN framework;
• engage proactively with all stakeholders and facilitate dialogue on the benefits and merits of an international convention against animal testing for cosmetics;
• make sure that the EU ban on animal testing for cosmetics is not weakened by any ongoing trade negotiations, nor by World Trade Organisation rules.

Lastly, Members called on the Commission to exclude cosmetics tested on animals from the scope of any free trade agreements already in force or currently under negotiation.