Speaking in Brussels on Thursday 3 May, MEPs said that, on the strength of its experience gained as a pioneer in this field, the EU, which has banned animal testing on cosmetics since 2013, must put its diplomatic network to good use to obtain a UN ban on this cruel practice and the trade in cosmetic ingredients tested on animals.
By an overwhelming majority (620 votes to 14 with 18 abstentions), the European Parliament called on EU leaders to build a coalition to launch an international convention on a worldwide ban on testing cosmetics on animals by 2023 (see EUROPE 11965).
The challenge is great as 80% of countries in the world still authorise animal testing for cosmetics, MEPs deplore.
The EU “cosmetic products” regulation (EC 1223/2009) sets out the conditions applying to the commercialisation of cosmetic products and ingredients and aims to achieve an internal cosmetic products market while at the same time ensuring a high level of human protection.
The sales ban affecting cosmetic products tested on animals, which has been in force in the EU since 2013, has not prevented the cosmetics industry from thriving, with some 2 million employed, MEPs stress.
They nonetheless note that loopholes have appeared in the European system, as some cosmetics are tested on animals in third countries before being tested again in the EU using alternative methods and before being sold on the EU market.
In addition, MEPs wish to ensure that the EU is not weakened by ongoing trade talks or by WTO rules.
At the start of the debate with representatives from the Council and Commission on Wednesday evening, Sirpa Pietikäninen (EPP, Finland) said: “The Parliament calls on Council and Commission to act to ensure there is a total ban. We call on them to bring all their influence to bear to propose a text to the UN. There must also be a ban in trade agreements”.
The representative of the Bulgarian Council presidency, Monika Panayotova, then pointed out that it was up to member states, through their market surveillance authorities, to ensure that no cosmetic finding its way onto the EU market has been subject to animal testing in a third country. She had also given her assurance that the Council stands ready to shoulder its responsibilities at international level. She sought to be reassuring regarding the possibility of conflict with the WTO, saying: “The Council is convinced that the ‘cosmetics’ regulation is in line with WTO rules and complies with trade agreements”.
Elzbieta Bienkowska, European Internal Market Commissioner, underlined the “importance of animal welfare for European citizens”. She was delighted that the ban in force in the EU has “inspired a large number of other countries in the world”. She gave her assurance that “the Commission will back all initiatives taken by member states that wish to go through the United Nations and will call for a ban in both bilateral and multilateral contacts”.
Bienkowska went on to add: “In trade agreements, the ban corresponds to our WTO commitments, since animal health and prosperity must be an objective”. Speaking of the guiding principle prevailing in free trade agreements, namely that five years after the ban the time has now come to take international measures, she said: “The world ban is a solution but not the only one”. She promised to keep Parliament informed. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)