National Antivisection Society
The Cosmetics Ban: looking forward
Posted: 11 March 2010
One year ago today, the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) celebrated the historic EU ban on the testing of cosmetics on animals. But it won’t end there.
Cosmetics testing has been banned in the UK since 1998, which the NAVS hailed as a massive victory after a hard fought campaign. In 2004, it was also made illegal for finished cosmetics products to be tested on animals in the EU when there is a validated alternative available. But from March 11th 2009, a real milestone was reached, with companies also banned from testing the individual ingredients used to make cosmetic products on animals. Prior to that, companies could legally put ‘not tested on animals’ on the packaging with reference to the finished product, whether or not any of the ingredients had been tested on animals.
As well as banning testing, 11th March 2009 also marked an EU block on the sale of cosmetic products that have involved animal experiments after this date. This prevented the sale of cosmetics tested outside the EU, some of them involving European companies that outsource the work overseas. Companies had previously been allowed to continue testing when they say a validated alternative is not available. And though a small number exemptions apply to the sales ban, these will finally also be completely banned by 2013, whether or not they say a suitable alternatives have been found.
The 2009 cosmetics ban was a great victory for the NAVS, having campaigned on this issue for over 25 years. As well as the fact that animals are no longer subjected to horrific tests to satisfy the human pursuit of beauty, consumers are finally able to purchase cosmetics with a clear conscience, safe in the knowledge that no animals were used in testing at any point along the production line.
NAVS in 2010
A year on, however, there is another side to this victory: the ban showed that a phased approach to banning animal testing is possible and achieves real results. This approach can now be applied to other animal testing issues, from the use of primates to the testing of household products. And this is what the NAVS is now looking towards.Following in the footsteps of the cosmetics ban, the NAVS continues to fight for the phasing out of all animal testing related to the manufacture of household products – both the finished products, and the ingredients used. With partners Animal Defenders International having launched a similar campaign in the USA, the NAVS’ Kick animal testing out of the House campaign is calling for action on several levels – on the part of manufacturers and retailers, on a National Government level, and in the European Parliament. And though the circumstances surrounding how household products are tested is rather more complicated than for cosmetics, with the introduction of the European chemical testing programme REACH making a re-testing of hundreds of chemicals used in household products compulsory, the NAVS is committed to an end goal of the phasing out of animal testing on both the ingredients and the finished products. And it will happen.
With your help, we can continue to press for change where it matters – in the UK and in Europe. The NAVS’ unique partnership with Animal Defenders International and the Lord Dowding Fund for Humane Research continues to effectively amplify our efforts to end animal tests on several fronts, and with our committed supporter base and long standing reputation we will continue to make a real difference in this area.
You can help Kick animal testing out of the House
Play a part in our campaign: by signing up to the brand new NAVS & ADI Action E-News, you can follow our campaigns team and get the latest updates on how you can get involved with our work. By signing up to take part in World Lab Animal Day on April 24th, you can speak up on behalf of the animals still used in testing around the world. And by supporting the Lord Dowding Fund for Humane Research, you can help build the groundwork for new alternative methods of testing, without the use of animals.Find out how you can make a difference with the NAVS: help Kick animal testing out of the House.
Help Kick animal testing out of the House:
