Why is Europe's cosmetics animal testing ban under threat?

Across Europe, millions of animals are used in education and science each year in experiments that frequently inflict suffering but seldom deliver on their main promise…..which is better health for humans.

These experiments include mice, fish, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, dogs, and monkeys.

Luckily, after years of campaign, in 2010 an ban came into play across the EU on animal testing. It is called the Directive 2010/63/EU revising Directive 86/609/EEC on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, adopted on 22 September 2010. The Directive is firmly based on the principle of the Three Rs, to replace, reduce and refine the use of animals used for scientific purposes. The EU ban on animal testing which is a marketing ban as well as testing ban. In other words, the ban not only prohibits selling cosmetic products which were tested on animals but also forbids performing such tests.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is proposing new animal testing on ingredients that have been used safely for years. If this is accepted, millions of animals could be subjected to unnecessary suffering.

What can you do?

Please sign the European Citizens’ Initiative petition now, to help save Cruelty Free Cosmetics.

We need 1 million signatures, can you help?  Please sign the petition now.

We want to see humane, human-relevant, animal-free science properly funded and fully utilised. That’s why we need you to join us and sign the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) calling on the European Commission to:

• Protect and strengthen the cosmetics animal testing ban

• Transform EU Chemicals Regulation

• Put forward a concrete plan to transition to non-animal science