In the cosmetics, stop animal testing. The European Parliament, by its own resolution 3.5.18, calls for the EU to act in the UN to obtain a ban on testing cosmetics on animal creatures. (1)
Animal testing in cosmetics, the EU ban and tricks to get around it
Animal testing in cosmetics has been banned in Europe since 2013. (2) In contrast, 80 percent of non-EU countries continue to allow this practice. Or even imposing it, as is the case in China.
The big ‘beauty product’ houses, however, continue to circumvent the ban, using two tricks:
– use of ingredients that have already been tested on animals in areas where such practice is permitted (detergents, pharmaceuticals, food),
– performance of the tests in non-EU countries, with a view to their import into the Old Continent. In defiance of what the Court of Justice ruled in 2016. (3)
Cruelty-Free?
Because of flaws in the system, the Cruelty-Free certificate is still used even in Europe.
Firms adhering to the International Standard ‘Not Tested on Animals’ agree not to test the finished product, not to commission outside Europe tests on the finished product or its ingredients, and not to use ingredients tested by previous manufacturers after a set date (so-called cut-off date).
Choosing a Cruelty-Freeproduct, therefore, incentivizes brands that reject animal testing even in non-European countries and even in relation to different product lines (intended for countries outside the EU).
Animal protection, the voice of consumAtors and Parliament in Europe
89% of Europeans say Europe should do more to promote the Value of Animal Protection internationally. (4) Value that must also be guaranteed through appropriate standards, to be applied on a planetary level.
The European Parliament therefore calls for UR diplomacy to take action at the UN with the aim of achieving a ‘global ban on animal testing in cosmetics’ by 2023.
Who will win, the animals or the goats?
Giulia Torre and Dario Dongo
Notes
2) See reg. (EC) 1223/09
3) ECJ,Case C- 592/14, judgment 21.9.16, on
https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2016-09/cp160105it.pdf
4) See Eurobarometer data, at.
http://ec.europa.eu/COMMFrontOffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/Survey/getSurveyDetail/instruments/SPECIAL/surveyKy/2096
Graduated in law, master in European Food Law, she deals with agro-food, veterinary and agricultural legislation. She is a PhD in agrisystem.
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
