Wednesday March 11, 2009, 12:11 pm
The 7th amendment to the Cosmetics Directive means that from 11 March 2009 it becomes illegal to: o test cosmetic ingredients on animals anywhere in the EU, irrespective of whether there is a non-animal alternative method available (testing on the products themselves is already banned) o sell or import into the EU cosmetics ingredients or products where they have been animal-tested after 11 March 2009**, with the exception of certain types** of test which have an extended deadline until 11 March 2013"
** large numbers of cosmetic products available will still
contain ingredients that have previously (before 11/03/2009) been
tested on animals
**the certain types are repeated-dose toxicity, reproductive
toxicity and toxicokinetics also irrespective of the availability of
alternative nonanimal tests

To avoid buying cosmetics tested on animals always use info from those sites:
USA: http://www.leapingbunny.org
Europe: http://www.gocrueltyfree.org

Wednesday March 11, 2009, 8:09 pm
Wonderful news!! Thank you Joanna.

Wednesday March 11, 2009, 10:09 pm
Thanks, Joanna - still a LONG way to go - but good news is always welcome!

Thursday March 12, 2009, 1:10 am
Great news

Thanks Joanna will fwd

Thursday March 12, 2009, 1:44 am
This Is Why I Love My Europe & Not the USA, TEST ON HUMANS Especially The Gronks who Need To Look Pretty Because They Are Not!!

Thursday March 12, 2009, 2:25 am
Thank you Joanna for sharing this! Great news at last!

Thursday March 12, 2009, 2:50 am
should be every day

Thursday March 12, 2009, 3:18 am
True civilization starts on the day, we humans stop using animals as "things", without any compassion and respect.
Testing on animals is sadistic, unreliable and not necessary at all!
Use human tissues, because this is the most reliable test and stop believing the lies, companies and research labs are telling you!
NO excuse is acceptable to torture our fellow species, never!!!
Thank you Joanna for sharing this news!

Thursday March 12, 2009, 3:22 am
TY Suzanna, As A MALE I think It Would Be GREAT If ALL Females Spoke Up About This Crap.
My sister Told Me 20 Years Ago About Makeup ... I hate It ... True Beauty Is there ... You Shall Know My Children By the fruit Of Their Lips ... Sadly I Swear Alot ... Can You Blame Me?
God Bless His PERFECT Creation

Thursday March 12, 2009, 4:13 am
I had this come through my mail box as support BUAV MANY YEARS. I'd only wear Beauty Withot Cruelty (BWC) make-up. I av NEVER understood the amount of women who wear ANIMAL'S BLOOD on their faces

Thursday March 12, 2009, 4:26 am
Leapingbunny.org and gocrueltyfree.org Good sites and produce damn good books I use to carry my gocrueltyfree book round supermarkets with me and check up all the names of companies sister companies I still check today ingredients - gelatine . . .
BOYCOTT COCA COLA NESTLE PROCTER AND GAMBLE MANY MORE IN BOOK

Thursday March 12, 2009, 4:29 am
Also BAYER Elaine, They also tested On the Jews In WW2!!

Thursday March 12, 2009, 6:22 am
yyyeeeeeeeee

Thursday March 12, 2009, 7:13 am
Great - thanks Joanna for the news.

Thursday March 12, 2009, 2:17 pm
Dr Dan Lyons reports on worrying loopholes in European ‘ban’ on animal-tested cosmetics

March 11th 2009 should mark a momentous day in the history of the anti-vivisection movement, but legal loopholes and Government indifference threaten to perpetuate the most gratuitous and extreme forms of animal cruelty. After a decades-long fight, two key Europe-wide measures to tackle animal testing are due to come into force as part of the EU’s ‘Cosmetics Directive’:

* a ban on animal testing of cosmetics ingredients (‘Cosmetics’ has a wide legal definition here and includes toiletries)
* a ban on the sale of cosmetic products and ingredients tested on animals anywhere in the world for all but three test areas, regardless of the availability of alternative non-animal tests

The complete sales ban where no animal tests are allowed at all for cosmetics sold in the EU is due to kick in during 2013. It is widely believed that the bans, supposed to be enforced irrespective of the availability of validated ‘alternatives’, has provided a serious incentive for companies to invest in non-animal, advanced testing methods.

The latest annual EU figures suggest that over 5,500 animals could be saved from poisoning tests for cosmetics in the EU alone, never mind the global impact as companies stop animal testing in order to continue access to European markets. However, the European Commission acknowledges more animals could have been used if tests are already being commissioned ‘for other purposes’. This admission flags up one of the major loopholes that companies like Procter & Gamble are likely to try to exploit.

The worry is that companies will continue to use ingredients tested on animals in cosmetics by pretending the test was for another purpose such as ‘household products’ or ‘pharmaceutical’. This would be particularly easy for companies who produce different types of products in addition to cosmetics, such as household cleaners and pharmaceuticals. Indeed, in a leaked internal memo, P&G discuss how they can get round the EU law.

But it’s not just companies that are sticking two fingers up to the rule of law – meet the UK Government. An ongoing Uncaged investigation reveals that there are potentially serious weaknesses in the way the UK Government is implementing the EU law:

* They are deceiving MPs and the public, and blocking the release of animal testing information relating to products on sale in the UK.
* They require local councils’ Trading Standards Departments (TSDs) to implement the law. But TSDs aren't and can't enforce this as they don't have sufficient resources and expertise. So we have a catch 22 situation where TSDs will investigate if there is evidence of wrongdoing, but it is impossible to obtain evidence as it is deemed confidential.


OFFICIAL SECRECY

Under the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 2008 – the UK law which implements the EU law - cosmetics products manufacturers are obliged to collate information on animal testing in Product Information Packs (PIPs). These are to be made available to the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR), and local TSDs.

Initially, the Government gave the impression that animal testing information could be obtained by the public. On 25 May 2008, Gareth Thomas MP, Minister for State at BERR told Linda Gilroy MP:

'Anybody who is concerned that a product or its ingredients have been tested illegally on animals should speak to their local Trading Standards Department.'

Again, in October, minister Claire Ward told MPs that the PIPs:

‘… will contain information on any animal testing that has been carried out in the past. If hon. Members are contacted by constituents with concerns about such matters, they can refer them to their local trading standards department.’

After we'd pointed out to MPs that TSDs couldn't give that information, BERR Minister Gareth Thomas MP admitted:

‘Although this information ["whether certain cosmetics products have at any stage been tested on animals"] may form part of the product information packages which all cosmetic suppliers must maintain and provide to Trading Standards Officers when requested to do so, the information provided is commercially sensitive and is not to be passed on to anyone outside the enforcement service. Anyone who wishes to find out the animal testing policies of a particular company should contact the company direct.’

Information about animal testing can easily be edited to remove any genuine commercial secrets, so the Government’s decision to keep that information secret is perverse and contrary to the public interest. Moreover, as we are all well aware, Thomas' suggestion that people write to the companies is ludicrous as there is no obligation for companies to give truthful information about their animal testing, and in fact companies who test on animals go out of their way to mislead consumers. Meanwhile, our survey of TSDs reveals their confusion and inability to enforce animal testing regulations.



With best wishes

Dr Dan Lyons, Director, Uncaged
www.uncaged.co.uk and www.hurtfulessences.org

Thursday March 12, 2009, 8:09 pm
NOTED & WILL FORWARD & THANKS......

Thursday March 12, 2009, 8:30 pm
We keep seeing trailblazing things
like this happening in the EU, and
NOT the US, and I think that's great.
Now, if the trend continues, the ban
on lab testing in Europe will come to
America.
Great news, Joanna, thanks so much!
noted.

Thursday March 12, 2009, 8:54 pm
It's wonderful to hear something positive for a change.

Thursday March 12, 2009, 11:25 pm
Thanks for sharing,very informative

Friday March 13, 2009, 3:06 am
This is happy news. It needs to happen here in the US now. Hats off to them for doing the right thing. Animals don't wear make-up, so why should they be the ones to suffer for it. Big thanks Joanna.

Friday March 13, 2009, 7:42 am
About time....now if we can just get the animals out of testing labs....PERIOD! Thanks Joanna!

Friday March 13, 2009, 5:23 pm
Thanks Joanna good new's is always a welcome site to see. Yes!!!!! One day maybe no animal will have to suffer no reason for it at all. All people have to do is read if it does not say cruelty free forget it.

Friday March 13, 2009, 7:18 pm
EU is the first in banning cosmetic test but USA has a chance to introduce Great Ape Protection Act and I hope it will help to stop primate experiments in EU as for today big pharmas and medical industry blocked all progressive changes in the EU directive

Monday March 16, 2009, 5:57 am
Even a small step in the right direction makes a difference. I long for the day when the inhumanity of man is a thing of the past. These creatures are ours to care for and protect. Good news....thanks for sharing. Lets all keep fighting the good fight.