Cosmetics Tested on Animals: "Ban Means No More Excuses" (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

Cosmetics Tested on Animals: "Ban Means No More Excuses"

January 20, 2003 12:00 AM

The EU Cosmetics Directive, mposing by 2009 a Europe-wide ban n the marketing of all new products tested on animals, has become law after Members of the European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg approved a deal negotiated with the Council of Ministers. An extension till 2013 will be given only in the case of three of the 14 groups of tests routinely carried out while alternatives are developed. Euro-MPs, who had equal decision-making powers with ministers on the issue, have claimed the result as a victory. They stuck to their demand for a ban on the sale of new products, forcing EU ministers to drop claims that this would infringe World Trade Organisation rules. Ministers had called only for a ban on the testing on animals within Europe, a measure that animal welfare groups claimed would simply transfer the testing outside EU borders. London's Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford, said: "This is a moral issue. Bathroom shelves are already packed with shampoos, deodorants and face creams. We do not need any more products intended to flatter human vanity if the price to be paid is continuing animal suffering." She added that a line was being drawn that must never again be shifted: "This law is the seventh amendment to a cosmetics directive first introduced in 1976. Each time the deadlines have drawn near the industry has been granted an extension. Now there must be no more excuses." "I do not exclude that the industry will try it on again and ask for a postponement. But they would be very foolish to rely on getting one, given the determination of the European Parliament. They must press on now with investing in development of alternative testing methods."