Brussels, 29/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - The ban on marketing and importing into the European Union any cosmetic ingredient or product tested on animals - a ban that has been in force since 11 March this year - is an excellent thing, but the European Commission must act if it is to inspire the whole world to follow its example, said Cruelty Free International on Tuesday 29 October. Representatives of the movement delivered this message to the European commissioner for consumer policy, Neven Mimica, whom they met in Brussels on Tuesday.
Proud to be able to announce that one million signatures had been gathered from customers of Body Shop supporting the commitment in favour of a world without animal-tested cosmetics, the representatives of Cruelty Free International urged the European Commission to be a driver for international change and to impress upon people that there are alternative methods of testing cosmetic products without using animals. It said the Commission could do so by including the issue on the programme of discussions with EU trade partners, whenever an opportunity to do so presents itself. They also called on the Commission to use EU funding to invest in the perfecting and validation of alternative methods as well as in training programmes throughout the world.
Michelle Thex, Executive Director of Cruelty Free International, summed up by saying (our translation): “We are pleased that so many customers of Body Shop have backed our call for change. Europe has paved the way by making the world know that animal experimentation for cosmetics is neither necessary nor acceptable. We urge Commissioner Mimica to continue to be the champion on this essential issue and to carry the message to the world as a whole”.
The organisation congratulates the Commission for having kept to the deadline of 11 March 2013 for imposing the total ban (see EUROPE 10803) but underlines that currently over 80% of the countries of the world continue to authorise animal testing for cosmetic products and their ingredients.
With the support of Body Shop, Cruelty Free International plans to pass on the commitments taken to 14 governments and regulatory bodies throughout the world. (AN/transl.jl)