EU bans the sale of cosmetics tested on animals!

Posted on the 11th March 2013

Today (11 March), the final stages of the Cosmetics Directive have come into effect. In a landmark victory, the European Union has now banned the import and sale of all cosmetic products and ingredients that have been tested on animals. Any company that wishes to sell new cosmetics within the EU must not test them on animals anywhere in the world.

After many years of campaigning, animal testing of finished cosmetic products within the EU was finally eliminated in 2004. In 2009, this was extended to include cosmetics ingredients. It was accompanied by a marketing ban, which prohibited the sale within the EU of cosmetics whose ingredients had been tested on animals – with the exception of three specified tests. The final phase of the legislation was to extend the ban to cover these last remaining tests. It initially looked as though this would be further delayed, but today the ban came into force as proposed.

Thank you to everyone who has campaigned on this issue! This is a tremendous victory, and sends a strong message to the rest of the world to follow suit.

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