Cosmetics: development, validation and legal acceptance of alternative methods to animal experiments. 1996 report

The European Parliament approved without debate the report by Mrs Dagmar Roth-Behrendt (PSE, D) on the Commission Communication on animal experiments in the field of cosmetics. In its resolution, Parliament deeply regrets the acceptance by the Council of the Commission proposal to postpone the date of implementation of the ban on the marketing of cosmetics containing ingredients tested on animals until 1 June 2000. Furthermore, more than four years after adoption of Directive 93/35/EEC, the Commission is still not able to provide detailed statistics on animal experiments. Little progress has been made in adopting alternative methods. Questioning the effectiveness of the measures taken since 1993 to develop and validate alternative methods, Parliament calls on the Commission to: - bring forward without delay a Parliament/Council proposal to ban animal testing of finished cosmetic products with effect from 1 January 1998; Parliament believes that this is the only way to force the sector to develop and validate alternative methods; - at the very least, include in this proposal a full ban on animal testing of finished products and fix the year 2000 as the deadline for implementation of the ban with regard to ingredients; - take positive and urgent measures to give new momentum to the development of alternative methods (for example through the Community's framework R & D programme); - avoid further delays to both the implementation of the ban and the acceptance of alternative methods resulting from efforts aimed at acquiring the widest possible international acceptance (such acceptance is not required by Directive 93/35/EEC). With regard to compliance with WTO rules, the EU should adopt a position without delay and press for GATT guidelines reconciling trade, environmental and animal welfare concerns; - draw up a comprehensive strategy in order to speed up the development of alternative methods, with appropriate division of responsibilities among the parties concerned and forcing the sector to do more to achieve the objective; Parliament suggests in this connection, as in the case of previous resolutions, that companies and institutions undertaking animal tests be required to participate in the development of alternative validation methods or to pay a levy/duty to fund such work. �