ECHA Clarifies Exceptions To Cosmetic Animal-Test Ban; NGOs Regroup

The European Coalition to End Animal Experiments protests that “in practice, the animal tests bans would have virtually no application,” following ECHA’s clarification of REACH-related exceptions to Europe’s prohibition on animal testing for cosmetic ingredients. According to ECHA, the ban does not apply to testing required under REACH for “environmental endpoints, exposure of workers and non-cosmetic uses of substances.”

An Oct. 27 clarification from the European Chemicals Agency highlighting instances where cosmetic ingredients may still have to undergo animal testing to fulfill requirements under REACH, despite a related ban in place in the EU since March 2013, has animal-welfare groups outraged and vowing renewed action.

The announcement from ECHA, in cooperation with the European Commission, reaffirms that the cosmetic animal-testing ban prohibits cosmetic products from...

More from Archive

More from HBW Insight