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Animal experiments

Many cosmetic products in the past were tested upon animals to determine any unexpected side effects, raising a number of ethical concerns. After much debate on the subject, the European Union, on Jan. 15 of 2003, banned cosmetic testing on animals and marketing of such products when alternatives to animal testing are available.

This ban was implemented on Sept. 11, 2004. Unfortunately it will take some time for the ban to encompass all forms of animal testing, for they must wait for alternatives for each step in the process to be tested and validated. A complete ban upon animal cosmetic testing is expected in March 11, 2009, allowing cosmetic companies time to develop alternative methods.

The only exceptions to this ban are repeated-dose toxicity, reproductive toxicity, and toxicokinetics, which are given a deadline of March 11, 2013

The Directive prohibits animal testing

... by imposing bans on:

testing finished cosmetic products and ingredients on animals (testing ban);

marketing finished cosmetic products and ingredients which have been tested on animals (marketing ban).

The testing ban on finished cosmetic products has applied since 11 September 2004, whereas the testing ban on ingredients or combinations of ingredients will apply progressively as alternative methods are validated and adopted (The latest cut-off date is 11 March 2009 (6 years after entry into force of the Directive) (describe some alternative methods).

The marketing ban will apply progressively as alternative methods are validated and adopted through EU legislation, based on the OECD validation process. (The latest possible date is 11 March 2009 (6 years after entry into force of the Directive) for products tested for all human health effects with the exception of repeated-dose toxicity, reproductive toxicity and toxicokinetics. For these specific health effects, the deadline is 11 March 2013 (10 years after entry into force of the Directive).

The final dates for both the testing ban and the marketing ban will apply irrespective of the availability of alternative non-animal tests.