Europe must protect the ban on animal testing of cosmetics ingredients  

A full ban on animal testing of cosmetics that will close loopholes allowed under the EU's main chemicals regulation is needed, writes Tilly Metz.

Tilly Metz member of the European Parliament (Luxembourg, Green) is chair of the Parliament’s Animals in Science working group and Vice Chair of the Sub-committee on Public Health. 

Back in 2013, I was one of many celebrating what seemed to be a groundbreaking victory for animals trapped in laboratories: the European Union’s world-leading decision to ban animal tests for cosmetics products and their ingredients.

Despite this much celebrated and seemingly final ban, the testing of cosmetic ingredients continues to use thousands of animals under separate chemicals legislation, meaning our work is far from over. 

It has been three frustrating decades of small steps forwards followed by one giant step backwards. In 2014 – just one year after the full implementation of the EU ban on animal testing for cosmetics – the European Commission and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) issued a joint statement allowing animal testing for cosmetics ingredients under the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation.  

Simply put, testing on animals is now legal for chemicals ingredients that are used exclusively for cosmetics can tested on animals if there is a chance of worker exposure. Ingredients that are used both in cosmetics and other products regardless of workforce exposure. In short, REACH has robbed animals of hard-won life-saving protections – and well-meaning consumers are duped into believing that cosmetics are now cruelty-free.   

Animals suffer immensely when they are used for chemicals tests. Although other animals are like humans in their ability to feel pain and emotions, the biological differences between the species mean that how they respond to chemicals has little relevance to us. Despite this, under REACH, experimenters repeatedly force sentient beings to ingest or inhale chemicals for days, weeks, or even months at a time. 

Most consumers oppose animal testing for cosmetics. In 2022, 1.2 million people signed the “Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics – Commit to a Europe Without Animal Testing” European Citizens’ Initiative, telling the European Commission in no uncertain terms that the public does not want self-care products that come at a cost to animals. By mandating animal testing for cosmetics ingredients anyway, the European Commission ignores citizens.  

We have already seen animals and well-meaning companies pay the price for this u-turn. Last year, German specialty chemicals firm Symrise lost its legal challenge to overturn a decision requiring animal testing for two UV filters. The defeat was a blow to animals that paves the way for similar rulings, making the animal testing ban impotent and pointless.   

Clearly, there is work to do. The two conflicting pieces of legislation, REACH and the Cosmetic Products Regulation, need revising to implement the animal testing ban effectively while ensuring robust human health and environmental protection. Investment in non-animal methods must be bolstered, and the European Commission must offer transparency to consumers by acknowledging the alarming erosion of the ban on animal testing for cosmetics. The European Commission must include REACH and the Cosmetics Products Regulation in its upcoming work programme – a move that is already two years overdue.   

For my part, I am committed to holding the European Commission accountable and pushing for a full ban on animal testing for cosmetics without any loopholes that allow for harming animals and deceiving consumers.  

In September, I am hosting a breakfast event that brings together representatives from non-governmental organisations and specialists in non-animal safety data, to discuss how we can realise the European Parliament’s long-standing goal of a comprehensive ban on animal testing for cosmetics. I will also be following up on the European Citizens’ Initiative to ensure that voters’ voices are not ignored.  

In the meantime, I urge everyone to sign PETA’s action alert calling on the European Commission to cancel its policy allowing cosmetics ingredients to be tested on animals. We can’t allow the milestone ban on animal testing for cosmetics to be undermined or more sentient beings to suffer in these pointless and cruel tests.