MEPs on the European Parliament environment committee trust the EU will bring its diplomatic networks into play to encourage the international community to impose a worldwide ban on animal testing of cosmetics by 2023.
In Brussels on Tuesday 20 February, the draft resolution along these lines was adopted unanimously (one abstention). It was prepared by Adina-Ioana Valean who chairs the parliamentary committee (see EUROPE 11914).
Aware of the fact that 80% of countries worldwide still authorise animal testing for cosmetics, MEPs believe the EU should capitalise on the experience gained through its legislation banning this practice for cosmetics. The sales ban affecting cosmetic products tested on animals, which has been in effect within the EU since 2013, has not prevented the cosmetics industry from generating jobs and thriving, they say.
MEPs note that most of the ingredients of cosmetic products are also used in many other products such as medicines, detergents or foodstuffs and are therefore likely to have been tested on animals, given that they come under different legislation. They therefore call on the EU to support the perfection of alternative testing methods for such ingredients.
They also urge the EU to ensure that products marketed in Europe have not been tested on animals in third countries.
The Parliament will take a stance on this issue during its March plenary session in Strasbourg. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)