No backsliding on deadline to ban animal testing for cosmetics, warns Liz Lynne (Birmingham Liberal Democrats)

Birmingham Liberal Democrats <info@birminghamlibdems.org.uk>

No backsliding on deadline to ban animal testing for cosmetics, warns Liz Lynne

June 17, 2011 12:38 PM
Originally published by Liz Lynne MEP

Liz Lynne MEP at a meeting of Animal Defenders International

Local Lib Dem Euro-MP Liz Lynne has warned that there must be 'no backsliding' on an EU law to ban all animal testing for cosmetics by 2013.

EU legislation to ban animal testing was approved in 2003 with clear deadlines for the phasing out of the practice. Most substances used in cosmetic products like sun cream, deodorants and toothpaste now gain approval without the use of animals, but some cosmetics manufacturers claim that some requirements cannot be met by the final 2013 deadline.

Local Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne has been a longstanding campaigner against animal cruelty and supported the EU directive when it was passed.

Speaking at the European Parliament in Brussels, she said:

"Animal testing for cosmetics should have ended a long time ago. Many of the tests performed cause great pain and suffering. I cannot accept any backsliding on this commitment.

"It is true that there are some difficulties in developing alternatives, but since we introduced the EU law huge technical progress has been made which was not predicted at the time.

"Many robust safety tests which do not use animals have been developed.

"Euro MPs made a pledge to the people who elected us to end the suffering of animals in manufacturing cosmetics which, while nice to have, are not essential to life and happiness.

"There is no good reason why this pledge cannot be kept. If some cosmetics cannot be developed without humane and safe testing procedures then we can surely do without them. There is already a vast range of proven products on the market which are cruelty-free."

In his most recent letter on the subject to Liz Lynne MEP, EU Commissioner John Dalli said: "My services are currently evaluating all options in relation to the implementation date and are assessing the impacts. No decision has been taken as to whether or not to postpone the implementation date and we are in open dialogue with all stakeholders."

Lib Dem Euro MPs organised a meeting with European Commission officials and industry experts in Brussels this week to discuss progress on implementing a total ban.

Simon Duffy, Founder of Bulldog Natural Skincare who spoke at the event, commented: "As a leading natural skincare company, which has always been highly committed to not testing its products or ingredients on animals, we call on the EU to honour its commitment to introduce a full ban in 2013."

ENDS

Notes: The event, held on Tuesday 14 June in the European Parliament, was co-hosted on a cross party basis by Lib Dem MEP Chris Davies, Keith Taylor MEP and Julie Girling MEP and the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE). The panel included Nick Palmer (BUAV), Dr Katy Taylor (ECEAE), Simon Duffy (Bulldog Natural Skincare, www.meetthebulldog.com) and Susanne Hoeke, Legal Adviser, within the Directorate General for Health and Consumers at the European Commission.