A global ban on animal testing for cosmetics

29.11.2017

Question for oral answer O-000091/2017
to the Council
Rule 128
Sirpa Pietikäinen, Miriam Dalli, Julie Girling, Frédérique Ries, Stefan Eck, Marco Affronte, Eleonora Evi, Sylvie Goddyn, on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

The Cosmetics Regulation lays down the conditions for the marketing of cosmetic products and ingredients in the EU, and aims to achieve an internal market for cosmetic products while ensuring a high level of protection of human health (Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009).

Animal testing of finished cosmetic products and cosmetic ingredients has been prohibited in the EU since September 2004 and March 2009 respectively (‘testing ban’). The marketing ban on finished cosmetic products and cosmetic ingredients tested on animals became fully applicable in March 2013, irrespective of the availability of alternative non-animal tests (‘marketing ban’). These landmark bans are evidence of the EU’s leadership in the field of animal protection and its commitment to ending animal testing. Moreover, they have also had very positive consequences; Europe has a thriving and innovative cosmetics sector.

Research efforts regarding alternative methods have achieved impressive results. Above all, the EU ban has shown that the phasing-out of animal testing for cosmetics is possible. Animal testing for cosmetics can no longer be justified and should therefore be phased out globally. However, 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 context, we would welcome answers from the Council to the following questions:

1. How does the Council assess the current global impact and acceptance by third countries of the EU ban on animal testing for cosmetics?

2. How will the Council ensure that all cosmetics placed on the EU market have never been tested on animals in a third country?

3. Will the Council take decisive action to spearhead an international agreement that will definitively put an end worldwide to the testing of cosmetics on animals, based on the model of the EU’s Cosmetics Regulation?

4. How will the Council promote a global ban on animal testing for cosmetics at the UN?

5. How will the Council ensure that the enforcement of a global ban on animal testing for cosmetics does not conflict with trade agreements and WTO rules?