WRITTEN QUESTION E-2624/00

by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Animal testing of cosmetics

In the Council's view, what international agreements should be taken into account in drafting a directive banning animal testing of cosmetics and marketing of products which have been tested on animals?

Reply

(30 November 2000)

It is for the Commission to determine what international commitments must be taken into account in drawing up a proposal for a Directive.

This said, the Council informs the Honourable Member that it has recently received a proposal for a Directive to amend to existing legislative requirements for cosmetics with a view to replacing the prohibition on the marketing of cosmetic products containing ingredients or combinations of ingredients tested on animals with a prohibition on carrying out tests on animals on the territory of the Member States with a view to the production of cosmetics.

According to the proposal for a Directive, the prohibition should apply to finished cosmetic products as from transposition of the Directive and to ingredients as soon as validated alternative methods have been approved at Community level, but in any case on expiry of a three-year period at the latest.

The proposal is currently being examined within the competent bodies of the Council.