Urgent Action Demanded: Ahead of CPR Revisions, MEPs Rally to Secure EU’s Animal Testing Ban for Cosmetics

Nine members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and 14 animal protection non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have sent an open letter to the European Commission (EC) urging regulators to protect and strengthen the European Union's (EU's) bans on animal testing for cosmetics. The letter was sent to mark the European Day for Humane Science on Sept. 22, 2025.

Three Key Requests Pre-empting REACH Revisions

Addressed to three European commissioners — Stéphane Séjourné, executive vice president for prosperity and industrial strategy; Olivér Várhelyi, commissioner for health and animal welfare; and Jessika Roswall, commissioner for environment, water and resilience and a competitive circular economy — the letter makes three key requests ahead of proposals to revise the EU's main chemicals law, REACH (the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and restriction of Chemicals), and following a consultation on the Cosmetic Products Regulation (CPR).

The requests are:

1. Defend and strengthen the existing bans on animal testing for cosmetics.
2. Promote the development and regulatory acceptance of scientific non-animal test methods.
3. Ensure the commission's forthcoming roadmap to phase out animal testing for chemical safety is ambitious and actionable, serving as a basis for a broader EU strategy to end animal testing in all scientific areas.

Concerns Over CPR, REACH Misalignment

The organization is concerned that a misalignment between the CPR and REACH regulations is weakening the cosmetics animal testing ban. 

Reportedly, REACH's animal testing requirements have been given precedence over the CPR. This was demonstrated by a 2023 European Court of Justice ruling that required cosmetics manufacturer Symrise to conduct animal tests on two ingredients used in sunscreens, citing REACH requirements. The ruling has been seen as undermining the intended scope of the cosmetics testing ban, which was fully established in 2013.

In its letter to the EC, Cruelty Free Europe is calling for the CPR to be amended to clarify that its bans on animal testing take precedence over any other EU chemicals law, including REACH. The letter was signed by MEPs from multiple political groups and coordinated by Cruelty Free Europe. 

Supporters include:

• Lynn Boylan (The Left, Ireland),
• Niels Fuglsang (S&D, Denmark),
• Anja Hazekamp (The Left, Netherlands),
• Pär Holmgren (Greens/EFA, Sweden),
• Alice Kuhnke (Greens/EFA, Sweden),
• Isabella Lövin (Greens/EFA, Sweden),
• Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA, Luxembourg),
• Sirpa Pietikäinen (EPP, Finland) and
• Majdouline Sbai (Greens/EFA, France).

Strengthening Commitment to Non-animal Testing Innovation

Emma Grange, Ph.D., Cruelty Free Europe’s director of science and regulatory affairs, said: “We are very concerned about what the European Commission has in mind for the revision of the Cosmetic Products Regulation."

She continued, "in our view, it is already not fit for purpose and the regulation must be strengthened, not weakened. ...[I]nnovation within EU industry must be supported by investing in humane, modern, non-animal testing methods delivering a high level of protection for human health and the environment."

The group argues that investment should focus on innovative non-animal testing methods to maintain the EU's leadership in humane science and uphold the original intent of the legislation.