EU ponders cosmetic test ban on amimals

The European Commission, bowing to animal rights activists and sentiments in the European Parliament, has proposed a ban on the testing of cosmetics on animals throughout the European Union.

If the 15 EU governments adopt the measure, it would widen a marketing ban on products containing ingredients that have been tested on animals after July 1, 2000, into a full scale ban of cosmetics testing on animals.

Currently, 0.3 per cent of animals used in experiments across the EU are used to test the safety of cosmetic products and their ingredients, the commission said.

Under the proposal, an all-out ban on such tests would take effect three years after the legislation has been adopted.

The commission also proposed the testing ban be accompanied by mandatory use of alternative cosmetics testing methods and said it would work to get such alternative tests accepted also by other countries.