SME Chamber

Europe announces a total ban on cosmetic testing on animals


Stop testing of cosmetics on animals and their commercialization. The
European Union, by Decree 1223/2009 in force since last March 11, has in fact
imposed a total ban on the sale of cosmetics developed through animal testing
in all Member States of the EU. The
ban however applies only to new products entering the market after 11th
March 2013. Products already in circulation will remain unaffected.

The
European Union had already banned animal testing in 2004. In 2009 the EU had
also prohibited the marketing of cosmetics tested on animals, with the
exclusion howeverof substances consisting of individual ingredients tested on
animals. These now have also been banned.

According
to the European Health Commissioner Tonio Borg "This is a great
opportunity for Europe to set an example of responsible innovation in cosmetics
without any compromise on consumer safety." The
same Decree also provides that as from 11th July, the manufacturers
of cosmetic products will be also obliged to provide more detailed information
on the expiry date of the product, a complete list of ingredients, the country
of origin and the presence of "nano" ingredients (ingredients that are
smaller than 100 micron).

Through
such provisions the European Union wants to set an example for the others
countries that still sell these products such as China, India and USA.

This
prohibition is in fact more of an ethical than a commercial turn, to promote
the welfare of animals.

However,
according to Cosmetics Europe, the company that represents the cosmetics
industry within the European market, worth 71 billion euros and 180,000
employees, this prohibition acts as an impediment on innovation.

According
to producers, another problem, , related to security of substances, is that at
the moment there are no alternative methods.

The
European Commission though reassures all that the search for alternative
methods will continue and specifically for this reason has already allocated
approximately € 238 million for the period between 2007 and 2011.

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