Cosmetics testing using animals

The use of animals to test cosmetics products or their ingredients is banned in the UK and all other member states of the European Union.

However, up until recently, it was possible that consumers within the EU could still be buying cosmetics products whose ingredients had been tested on animals elsewhere in the world. On 11th March 2013, we welcomed the coming into force of a ban on the sale within the EU of these products too. 

The RSPCA has long campaigned against this use of animals. There are already more than enough cosmetic products available and thousands of existing cosmetic ingredients are accepted as safe. It is simply not justifiable to develop new cosmetic products at the cost of animal suffering. These EU bans represent a significant campaigning success.

It is encouraging that a number of countries elsewhere in the world are now seeking to adopt similar test bans. However, in many others (including China and the United States of America) animals are still used to test cosmetics ingredients and products. Our focus will now be on ending the suffering of these animals too.  
 

Timeline to EU bans

• In 1997 the UK banned the use of animals to test cosmetics products. In 1998, a similar ban was introduced to cover ingredients.
• In 2003 an amendment was made to the EU Cosmetics Directive putting in place plans to ban the use of animals to test cosmetics or their ingredients within the European Union. 
• In 2004 the ban on using animals to test finished cosmetics products in the EU came into force.  
• In 2009 the ban on using animals to test ingredients for cosmetics in the EU came into force. 
• In addition, a ‘sales ban’ on new products whose ingredients had been tested on animals elsewhere in the world came into effect. But this was not a total ban. It could be delayed until 2013 for three specific types of safety test (repeat-dose toxicity, reproductive toxicity and toxicokinetics) - which it was thought would take longer to replace.
• On March 11th 2013 the full marketing ban took effect across the EU (regardless of the availability of alternative methods).
   

What is a 'cosmetic product'?

The definition of a cosmetic product as used in UK law, and throughout the European Union is wider than many people expect. As well as decorative make-up, it includes products designed to “clean, perfume and protect the body”. This definition incorporates soaps, bath and shower preparations (salts, foams, oils, gels), deodorants and antiperspirants, hair care products (shampoos, conditioners, sprays and colourants), shaving creams, foams and lotions, toothpaste and mouthwash, sun creams, anti-wrinkle products, face packs and hand lotions, as well as after-shaves and perfumes.

More information

• Read our press release from March 2013: We're made up - but there's still more to do (2013) (PDF 87.3KB)
• See the Q&A on 'Animal testing and cosmetics' from the European Commission.