A recent ruling by the European Court of Justice places the ban on animal testing for cosmetics in Europe under severe pressure. The decision, stemming from a case against Symrise AG, represented by PETA, poses a real threat to thousands of animals in laboratories.
Background information
The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) Cosmetics, initiated by Eurogroup for Animals along with Proefdiervrij, other animal welfare organizations, and over 400 cosmetic brands, aims to address the loophole in the European cosmetic law. This loophole allows some cosmetic ingredients to still be tested on animals, specifically to ensure the safety of workers in the production process. European citizens responded massively, resulting in over 1.2 million signatures and a response from the European Commission.
European Commission response
Despite the European Commission committing to develop a plan to eliminate mandatory animal testing for certain substances, concerns persist. The ban on animal testing for cosmetics, outlined in the European cosmetic law of 2013, does not seem fully guaranteed. This is despite the efforts of the ECI and the concerns of over 1.2 million European citizens.
Recent court ruling
On November 22, 2023, the European Union Court of Justice made a ruling in a case brought by Symrise AG and PETA. Symrise AG, a German manufacturer of cosmetic ingredients, wanted to challenge a decision by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) requiring them to test cosmetic ingredients on thousands of animals. Unfortunately, the court ruled against Symrise AG, undermining the previously groundbreaking EU ban on animal testing for cosmetics.
Our stance
As Proefdiervrij, we find this development deeply disappointing. Despite known issues, the EU has not amended the law, exposing test animals to animal experiments once again. This makes it challenging for consumers to be sure whether cosmetics are cruelty-free, and the ban on animal testing for cosmetics in the EU is now at stake.
What now?
We continue to fight for a world without animal testing in the cosmetics industry. On World Animal Day, we launched the “Lak aan” campaign, emphasizing that the EU seems indifferent to test animals, or else it would protect the cosmetic law.