There was good news for animal loving beauty fans in the EU last month as a new law banning the import and/or sale in the EU of cosmetics that have been tested on animals or containing ingredients that have been tested on animals came into force on 11 Mar 2013. Products containing ingredients that have been tested on animals in the past can still be sold in the EU, but no ingredients that are tested on animals after the ban will be allowed.
Image courtesy of AKARAKINGDOMS/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net
I’m really happy about this latest development in the long story of the fight against animal testing. There is no scientific need to test cosmetics on animals and this move will go a long way in ending the cruelty and suffering that is involved in gratuitous vivisection. (Note that this ban does not apply to pharmaceuticals). In developed countries like the member states of the EU our great access to amenities and consumables mean that it’s easy to buy products without having to think about their origins or production, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t. I hope that the rest of the world looks to the EU’s lead and follows suit very soon.
However, it doesn’t mean that cruelty-conscious consumers can entirely relax their guard when shopping in Europe. Due to the vagaries of international laws, there will be some companies testing products on animals outside the EU for sale outside the EU that also sell the same or similar products within the EU, only having used non-animal tests on those. It’s a situation that is best described as absurd!
Once again I would refer anybody concerned about the origins of their cosmetics to explore the Leaping Bunny website as an introduction to the world of cruelty-free. (Please note that this blog is not 100% cruelty free).
If you are interested in finding out more about what the EU ban itself covers, excludes, or more about animal testing around the world then I’ve included some links to further information below.
BBC NEWS
EU bans sale of all animal-tested cosmetics
Europa (official website of the European Union)
Full EU ban on animal testing for cosmetics enters into force
The Body Shop
BUAV
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