EDM 137 'Animal Testing of Cosmetics'
As you probably know, the first phase of the historic
animal testing bans in the EU's Cosmetics Directive came into force
in 2004. It's now illegal to supply any 'cosmetic' product (which
includes toiletries) containing ingredients which have been tested
on animals where an EU-validated alternative test method exists.
Additional regulations are due to come into force in 2009 and
2013, leading to a total ban on the sale of cosmetics which contain
ingredients or combination of ingredients which have been tested
on animals for cosmetics purposes. This momentous law overcomes
the drawbacks of unilateral action by one country and could save
thousands of animals across the world every year.
These political initiatives are powerful boosts to the consumer-focussed
campaigns such as Uncaged's Global Boycott of Procter & Gamble,
as a means of intensifying pressure on P&G (and other animal
testing companies) to end their outrageous practices.
However, it appears that the British Government, which is responsible
for enforcing the Directive in this country, does not have adequate
checks in place to determine whether manufacturers are obeying
these laws.
So the big cosmetics manufacturers like Procter & Gamble are
continuing as they have always done, while lobbying to shift the
next deadline back from 2009. Meanwhile the majority of the public
believe animal testing for cosmetics is a thing of the past.
We are extremely concerned that the Cosmetics Directive is not
being implemented, and that as a result the future deadlines will
be missed.
An MP has raised a new Early Day Motion (EDM) on our behalf, applauding
the Boycott P&G campaign and asking the Government to resist
attempts to water down the Cosmetics Directive:
"That this House believes, in common with
the majority of the British public, that it is morally unacceptable
that animals should suffer merely because companies choose to develop
new cosmetic products; applauds Uncaged's Boycott Procter and Gamble
campaign as a vital means of relaying public concern to companies
who perform toxicity tests on animals for cosmetics products; supports
the transparent and thorough implementation of the animal testing
and marketing bans in the Council Directive 76/768 relating to
cosmetic products; calls on the Secretary of State at the Department
for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to ensure the disclosure
of relevant non confidential data in product information relating
to animal testing of cosmetics products so that consumers can make
informed choices; and urges the Government to resist attempts by
cosmetics companies and non-EU states to prevent or postpone implementation
of the ban on the sale of animal tested cosmetics products or ingredients. "
Click here to lobby your MP on EDM
137 now!
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