The response came during the summer, with the official Communication published on 18 August 2023 in the Official Journal of the European Union. It is a positive response, with commitments to do even more to reduce animal testing, but it leaves animal protection organisations wanting more, particularly where cosmetics are concerned.
Backed by more than a million citizens across the European Union, the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) “Save cruelty-free cosmetics - Commit to a Europe without animal testing” is the ninth to have been successful.
In its response, the European Commission gives a full overview of the EU legislative and policy framework governing the use of animals in experiments. It also proposes complementary measures and responds to the three points raised by the ECI.
Protect and strengthen the cosmetics animal testing ban
The Commission emphasises that the animal testing ban for cosmetics ingredients and the marketing ban for cosmetic products containing ingredients tested on animals has been fully implemented under the Cosmetics Regulation.
But it adds that it does currently not intend to propose legislative changes to the Cosmetics Regulation nor to the REACH Regulation. It argues that the interface between the two Regulations is currently under scrutiny by the General Court in two cases brought against ECHA. It is therefore awaitingthe judgments, will analyse them when they become available, and will take them into account when deciding on the need for legislative changes.
As part of the targeted revision of the REACH Regulation, it undertakes however to replace some information …
