WRITTEN QUESTION E-1298/00

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(19 April 2000)

Subject: Animal testing for cosmetics

Referring to the Commission's statement dated 5 April (IP/00/335) regarding the adoption of a proposal to amend Council Directive 76/768/EEC(1) on animal testing for cosmetics, does the Commission agree that this proposal is likely to lead to the cruel testing being exported from the EU and the products of that cruelty subsequently being imported for sale, and will the Commission also state the number of contacts that it has had with the industry and with the World Trade Organisation in respect of this proposed change of policy?

(1) OJ L 262, 27.9.1976, p. 169.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(15 June 2000)

The Commission does not aim to increase cruelty towards animals. On the contrary, the Commission is continuing its efforts to reduce the suffering inflicted on animals during testing, cut down on the number of tests, and, as far as possible and within the shortest feasible timescale, eliminate animal suffering, an aim also found in Directive 86/609/EEC regarding the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes(1).

The Commission took this objective into account when drawing up its proposed seventh amendment. It does, in fact, propose to introduce a definitive ban in Europe on carrying out animal testing for both finished cosmetic products and the ingredients used for these. In addition, since the key to solving this problem is to perfect methods which substitute animal testing, the Commission is continuing its efforts to develop alternative methods, making it compulsory to use these once they have been scientifically validated at Community level. The Commission will also seek to ensure that these alternative methods obtain the rapid approval of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, thus enabling them to be used world-wide.

As for the contacts which took place during the drafting of this proposal, the Commission consulted all the parties concerned by the issue of animal testing, including animal protection groups.

(1) OJ L 358, 8.12.1986.