I’m really excited that by 2013 all EU cosmetics and household products will be cruelty-free! Only 6 more years!
The EU passed a ban on animal testing in 2003 — it has already started to be put into effect, and should be completely in effect by 2013 — the idea was to phase it in slowly over a ten year period.
The ban on animal testing of European cosmetics and household finished products went into effect in 2004, and in 2009 the ban on animal testing of ingredients will go into effect except for animal testing for three types of toxicity (reproductive toxicity, repeat dose toxicity, and toxicokinetics). (It’s important to remember that banning animal testing on finished products is a very small percentage of animal testing — most of it occurs in the ingredients.) However, in 2013 those three exempted toxicities will no longer be exempted from the ban, and companies will have to use non-animal-based tests to determine those toxicities (alternatives do exist! really! they’re called in vitro alternatives to animal testing, and they are much nicer — they involve taking a small sample of human or animal flesh, and keeping it alive in a petri dish, and dousing it with chemicals to see if those chemicals are toxic (to my understanding)). A ban on importing cosmetics or household products from outside the EU that have been tested on animals will also go into effect then as well (see details here).
So just think — by 2013, anyone concerned with cruelty-free products will no longer have to look at my lists or the CCIC’s website to see if a company doesn’t do animal testing or not — they can just buy any European product! It really does sound wonderful. Also, it should save approximately 38,000 animals a year that the European cosmetics industry currently tortures and kills for animal testing purposes. Even better! (Though I do realize that key stakeholders such as cosmetics companies may manage to push off this deadline, so whether 2013 actually sees the end of animal testing in European cosmetics is questionable — the amendment could be repealed or extended indefinitely.)
This animal testing ban in the EU is called “The Amendment to the Cosmetic Directive.” I’ve been trying to find the people and organizations behind it, but I haven’t had much luck. You can read it in full here, though I personally found it a little . . . I hate to say it . . . boring (but excellent! I love it!). So, those organizations that are behind it — good for you!
I hope this will encourage the U.S. government to enact a similar ban in the future — I’m sure there are lots of cruelty-free organizations working on this right now, like the API, PETA, and of course the CCIC and its seven member organizations: the American Anti-Vivisection Society, the American Humane Society, Beauty without Cruelty, the Doris Day Animal League, the Humane Society of the United States, the New England Anti-Vivisection Society . . .
Im an ardent animal lover totally against all types of cruelty to animals, and have MCS an ignored illness which is totally debilitating caused by all toxins in household cleaners, toiletries, and the environment, not enough being done for this illness, Ive had it for over forty years and the symptoms are horrendous, you can read my story and others on mcs-globa.org a fantastic site run by Diana Buckland , I am proud to be one of her coordinators. the only one for Scotland, my story has been in many magazines and newspapers, but still after all this time Im getting no help in Scotland for this condition, please read about MCS will you , as it must affect animals too, after all they have cancers also poor things. thank you for allowing me to join your wonderful site.
Comment by Donna Irene Robertson — May 21, 2007 @ 1:40 am
until governments wake up and tell the truth about exactly whats in regulate junk in shops we ll never move on , the toxins in perfumes, cleaners, fabric conditioners, air fresheners etc are awful. it must be stopped as it will affect both humans and the animal population, its a very debilitating illness, with a myriad of symptoms ranging from nause through to sever deperssion. please read on mcs-global.org thank you Im the Scottish coordinator on there.
Comment by Donna Irene Robertson — May 21, 2007 @ 1:42 am
Your site is very interesting — I’ll have to read up more about it!
Comment by Emily — May 21, 2007 @ 4:46 pm