UK: partial reinstatement of the ban on animal testing.

We welcome first step towards reintroduction of full ban

A partial reinstatement of the UK’s ban on animal testing for cosmetics has been announced by the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman MP, in response to the information revealed in our Judicial Review earlier this month.

This partial ban prevents animal testing for ingredients used exclusively in cosmetics, to protect consumer, worker and environmental safety – but this covers only approximately 20% of the total number of chemicals used in cosmetics. The previous ban, introduced in 1998 and confirmed by the government in 2015, also covered ‘substances used exclusively or predominantly as cosmetic product ingredients’.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister insisted last week that ‘the ban on using animals to test cosmetic products or ingredients for the consumer remains completely in force’ – but, as revealed in the High Court hearing of our Judicial Review, the Home Secretary has now admitted to “the issuing of a small number of time-limited licences between 2019 and 2022”.

Ms Braverman also said: “The Government is taking action to seek alternatives to animal testing for worker and environmental safety of chemicals used exclusively as cosmetic ingredients.

“Modern alternatives mean there are opportunities to design non-animal testing strategies for these chemicals so that worker and environmental safety is unlikely to be compromised, and potentially enhanced. In this way, working with industry, the Government is seeking to improve safety by the application of new non-animal science and technology.”

Our Chief Executive, Michelle Thew, said: “This statement from the Home Secretary is a welcome first step in response to the information revealed in our Judicial Review. We are pleased to see that the Government are listening to the British public in reinstating a partial ban on animal testing for ingredients used exclusively in cosmetics, to protect consumer, worker and environmental safety, and actively seeking alternatives to animal testing.

“We urge the government to now take the next step by reinstating the full ban on animal testing for cosmetics.”

Sources :   Cruelty Free International