Proud that the EU passed rules five years ago banning animal experiments for cosmetic products, the members of the European Parliament’s environment committee, right across the political spectrum, are unanimous in wanting to see EU action at the United Nations to promote adoption of a total ban on animal experiments for cosmetic products. They made this clear in Brussels on Tuesday 28 November with the adoption of an oral question to the Commission and another to the Council asking what the two institutions intend to do to derive maximum possible benefit for animal welfare across the globe from the EU’s position as a pioneer in this area.
The preparatory debate on the adoption of a draft resolution also revealed the extent to which MEPs are keen to see things advance worldwide, in response to strong calls from millions of European citizens.
The MEPs want to know: - how the Commission assesses the current global impact of the EU ban on animal experiments for cosmetics and how it is being accepted by third countries; - how the Commission intends to ensure that no animal experiments in third countries have been used on cosmetics placed on the EU market; - whether the Commission will take decisive measures to pave the way for an international agreement bringing a definitive end to animal experimentation throughout the world, on the model of the EU regulation on cosmetic products; - how the Commission intends to ensure that application of a global ban does not conflict with trade agreements and WTO rules; - how the Commission intends to promote a global ban at the United Nations.
In the course of the debate, all MEPs emphasised that the ban on the marketing of finished cosmetic products and cosmetic ingredients on which animal experiments have been carried out, fully applicable since March 2017, had not dealt a fatal blow to the European cosmetic industry – quite the opposite. The industry is in sound health – it employs almost two million people – and the EU legislation has spurred it to invest in R&D and innovation in order successfully to develop alternative solutions. Israel, India, New Zealand, Switzerland and Guatemala have are already followed the EU lead, and Australia and South Korea are expected to follow very soon. That, however, leaves close to 200 countries around the world to be persuaded.
EPP MEPs called for the desired global ban to be restricted to cosmetic products and not to spill over into medical research which, according to this political group, still requires animal testing. The deadline for amendments has been set at 6 December. The environment committee vote on the draft resolution is scheduled for 20 December. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)