Since 11 March 2013, cosmetics and their ingredients tested on animals may no longer be imported into the EU. This historic victory of our umbrella organization ECEAE and the anti-vivisection movement was preceded by a long, rocky road. Nevertheless, there is still a lot to do. Animals are still experimented on for numerous other purposes and even animal testing for cosmetics continues because it is still allowed outside the EU, e.g. for the Chinese market.

The ban on animal testing for cosmetics - a long road

Our umbrella organization, the European Coalition to End Animal Testing (ECEAE) was founded in 1991 with the aim to abolish animal testing for cosmetics in the EU. This goal was finally achieved after 23 years. Since 11 March 2013, cosmetics products and their ingredients tested on animals may no longer be imported into the EU.

It has been an incredibly long and rocky road with many setbacks. The ECEAE has fought at the forefront over the years to prevent animals from suffering and dying for lipstick and hairspray. From the beginning, high-profile campaigns and political work aimed not only to ban animal testing for cosmetics and ingredients, but also to ban imports into the EU. This is the only way to effectively force industry to become animal-free.

Demonstration 1991

• 1986 - The then new German animal protection law banned animal testing for decorative cosmetics. However, this law did not stop animal testing in this field. The ban excluded all personal care cosmetics, and it was unclear where to draw the line between decorative and personal care products. The manufacturers claimed eyeshadow and lipstick to be skin care products and could thus easily circumvent the ban.
• 1990 - The European Coalition to End Cosmetic Animal Testing (later ECEAE) was founded by the leading animal protection and anti-vivisection organisations with the aim of abolishing animal testing for cosmetics in the EU.
• 1991 - ECEAE organised a large demonstration in Brussels. The oversized rabbit ‘Vanity’ went on a tour across Europe to convince MEPs to vote for a ban on animal testing for cosmetics.
• 1992 - A historic step: The EU Parliament voted to end animal testing for cosmetics in the EU.
• 1993 - The Council of Ministers rejected the draft of the European Parliament and the European Commission, which bans the sales of products and ingredients tested on animals. The setback was due to the powerful cosmetics industry, which wants to stop the ban.
• 1996 - Together with the Body Shop and rock legend Chrissie Hynde, ECEAE handed over four million signatures to the EU Commission.
• 1998 - The German Animal Welfare Act prohibited animal testing for the development of decorative and personal care cosmetic products and for their ingredients as long as they do not fall under the Chemicals Act. This affected only about 10% of all ingredients, so that the majority of the substances can still be tested on animals according to the requirements of the Chemicals Act.
• 2000 - The EU Commission froze the plans to implement a sales ban and proposed a ban on animal testing for cosmetic products within two years and on ingredients three years later, with the option of a further postponement.
• 2003 - The 7th amendment of the Cosmetics Directive was passed. It stipulated a ban on animal testing for cosmetics within ten years.
• 2004 - From September 11, 2004 an EU-wide ban came into force on animal testing for cosmetic products and a ban on selling cosmetic products and ingredients tested on animals if there are 'alternative' test methods approved by the EU.
• 2009 - An EU-wide ban on animal testing for cosmetic ingredients as well as an EU-wide ban on sales of cosmetics products and raw materials tested on animals for most of the routine animal tests, regardless of whether animal testing-free methods already exist or not, came into force. Three animal tests (repeated dose toxicity, reproductive toxicity, toxicokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of a substance)) may continue to be carried out. A ban of these tests was planned for 2013.
• 2010 - The EU Commission planned to postpone the final stage of the sales ban for 2013 by ten years.
• 2011 – The ECEAE launched the 'NO cruel cosmetics' campaign, supported by celebrities like Sir Paul McCartney and Morrissey.
• 2012 – The ECEAE handed in almost a quarter of a million signatures in Brussels and held discussions with decision-makers from the EU Commission, the EU Council and the Belgian Presidency.
• 2013 - On 11 March, the ban on the sale of cosmetic products and ingredients tested on animals came into force.

ECEAE hands in 250.000 signatures in Brussels 

 

Author: Dr Corina Gericke, DVM
Translation: Dr Dilyana Filipova, PhD
11 August 2020

Further Information Animal testing-free cosmetics >> Animal and non-animal tests for cosmetics >>