Unilever + 484 Stakeholders Urge EU Officials: Uphold Cosmetic Animal Testing Ban

In an open letter from the industry—addressed to members of the European Parliament, European Council and European Commission—cosmetic industry stakeholders, including Unilever, The Body Shop, Neal's Yard, Natura, Beauty Kitchen, Avon and hundreds of others, urged policymakers to uphold the animal testing ban for cosmetics. 

 See related: Appeals to ECHA Board Rejected, Animal Tests Required for REACH

Official Statement:

To: David Maria Sassoli, President, European Parliament
Charles Michel, President, European Council
Ursula von der Leyen, President, European Commission

Cosmetics Animal Testing Ban Effectively Shredded

The EU Cosmetics Regulation animal testing and marketing bans have been used as the gold standard around the world—setting the precedent for cosmetics products and ingredients to be used safely without subjecting animals to cruel and unnecessary tests. These bans have now been dealt a devastating blow following a series of regulatory decisions made by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), with support from the European Commission and ECHA's own Board of Appeal.

ECHA is now requiring some widely used cosmetics ingredients (and ingredients used in many other types of consumer products) to be tested on thousands of animals under the guise of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. As a direct result of these decisions, the use of thousands of rats and rabbits in tests is required, some of whom will be force-fed a cosmetics ingredient throughout pregnancy before they and their unborn offspring are killed and dissected. REACH must not be used to circumvent the Cosmetics Regulation and render the cosmetics testing and marketing bans meaningless.

The approach of ECHA and the Commission is at odds with the European Parliament's call in May 2018 for a worldwide ban on testing cosmetics on animals by 2023. It undermines the purpose and value of the Cosmetics Regulation, which many of us have worked determinedly over many years to shape, implement, and leverage with non-EU countries in developing their own cosmetics legislation. The approach also has consequences for citizens around the globe who want to purchase cruelty-free products: 84% of respondents to a recent global survey said they would not buy a cosmetics product if they knew it (or one of its ingredients) had been tested on animals.¹

The bans are further threatened by the Commission's future policy for chemicals regulation—the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability—which is set to expand testing requirements for substances including cosmetics ingredients, at the cost of potentially thousands of animals' lives.

One of the principal objectives of the Cosmetics Regulation is the protection of human health, with the intention that this be safeguarded in all situations. The ingredients at the centre of ECHA's decisions have a long history of safe use by consumers and have been handled safely in factories for many years. It is perfectly possible to use exposure-based weight-of-evidence assessments, using a variety of non-animal data, to fill any perceived critical information gaps in order to be assured of the safety of these ingredients.

Indeed, as clarified by the Court of Justice of the European Union in the 2016 European Federation for Cosmetics Ingredients case, new safety-assessment data for cosmetics substances imported into the EU must rely only on non-animal assessment methods. Logically, precisely the same approach must be adopted for testing within the EU, whether under REACH or any other EU legislation.

We, the undersigned, call for the EU cosmetics animal testing ban to be upheld as intended, with no new tests on animals allowed.

1. Frame. Fact or fiction? Mapping perceptions of animal testing. https://frame.org.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2020/06/FRAME-report_final.pdf. Published June 2020. Accessed 13 November 2020.

The Undersigned

24K Cosmetics

28 Litsea

4organic

Abela

Above Beyond Group Ltd

AD skin synergy

ADDA, Spain

Adesse New York

Aesop

Agilise Cosméticos

All About Good Vibes

Alter-Native

Alucia Organics

Alvend Laboratoire

Amanda Murray NYC

ANIMAL, Portugal

Animalia, Finland

Animals Without Boards, Croatia

Aqua Natural

Aqua Natural Ltd.

Arctic Fox

AREU AREU

Argital

ARTONIT Cosmetics

Assured Products Ltd.

Astonish

Aurelia Probiotic Skincare

Aurelia Skincare Ltd

Ava May Aromas

Avon

Awake Organics Ltd.

Ayumi

B4U Laboratories

Baby Mantra

Bacana Skincare

Bara Cosmetics

BareFaced Beauty Ltd.

Barr Cosmetics

Bashia Cosmetics

Beauty Disrupted

Beauty Kitchen UK Ltd

Beauty Magic

Beauty Without Cruelty

beBIO

Bee Good Enterprises Ltd.

Bellapierre Cosmetics Ltd.

Bellati Naturals

Better Health Ltd.

BH Cosmetics

Biocosmetics

Biotakara

BIW BIW

Black Dahlia Lacquer

Black Sheep Organics

Blaq

Bliss Delights

Bluebird Skincare

blum organics

Body & Face St Cyrus

Body & Face St Cyrus Ltd

Bolt Beauty Limited

Bo-Po Nailpolish (Worx Toys)

Botanico Vida

Botanics

bPerfect Cosmetics

Bramley Products Ltd.

Brooks-Hill Limited

BrushBox

Buff Efforts

buScreen

Butterwhips Ltd

Cafuné

Capure Goat Milk Soap

Cemon Homeopathics Ltd

CHEMEXC S de RL Dermacare

Chemical Manufacturing and Exporting Company S de RL

Chez Lapin Goods

Childs Farm Ltd

Chistaya Linia

Christiane Heyn

Christine Valmy

Clean Beauty Distribution

CocoMak

Cocunat

COLORISI

Coloured Raine

Comette Cosmetics

Conscious Skincare

Cool & Nature M32 SL

Copaibe

Corinne Taylor Holistic Therapy

Coruscare

Cosmondial

Crane + Wilton Ltd

Crowd Culture

Cruelty Free Europe

Crystal Spring Consumer Division Ltd

Cultivator Natural Products Private Ltd.

Day Lily Paris

Della e Delle

Dermalogica

Desert Pea

Designer Lashes UK

Diervriendelijk Nederland

Doers of London

Doers Skincare Limited

Dove

Dr Jackson Limited

Dr. Jacobs Naturals

Dr. Perry's

DrTung's

E Beauty Ltd.

Earth Conscious Ltd

Earth Sense

Eco Chic Chick

Ecoleaf

Ecotech

EcoVegAnimals, Bosnia

Eleni & Chris

Elidor

Elixir Treatments

Elizabeth Mott

ELLIS FAAS Cosmetics

Eloise Hall Ltd.

Emeis Holdings Pty Ltd

Emerge

Emma Hardie Ltd

Endemic Biotech S.L.

Enviro-works

epic beauty

EQ France

Equus Mare

Era Organics

Erui Cosmetics

Essante Organics

Eurogroup for Animals

EXQUISITE Luxury Ltd

Extraordinarios Luxo Natural

Face Cult

Fair Squared

Faith in Nature Ltd.

Farryn Amber

FATFACE

FatFace UK Ltd

FFS Beauty Ltd.

FINE Deodorant

Floral Street Fragrance

FLOSLEK

Folly Fire

For Your Nails Only

Forest Herbs Research

Fragile Cosmetics

Frances Prescott

Franline Ltd

Friendly Soap Ltd.

Fuchsia Brands Pty Ltd

Fudco

Funky Soap Shop Ltd

Fushi Wellbeing Ltd

Fusion Body Art

Fysha

Gaia Skincare Limited

GAIA, Belgium

GEL.IT.UP by GIUP®

Gel.IT.UP Greece

Gelstory

Gestion Comercial Integral Navalon SL

GHS Direct Ltd

Girls with Attitude

Good3

Green Beauty Cosmetics

Green Beaver Company

HAER Limited

HAKA Kunz

Hanaei Beauty Company

Happy Carrot Skincare Ltd

Hashtag Brothers

Here We Flo

Heroine

Hibisco cosmetica natural

Home and Body Company

Homethings

Hourglass Cosmetics

HOWND

Humane Society International

I AM Cosmetic

i+m NATURKOSMETIK BERLIN

IC Scandinavia AS

Ihana Skincare

Ikeda Group Pte Ltd

iLevel Lab

Imperial Bioscience Ltd

Inari Skincare Ltd.

Inlight Beauty & Wellness

InnoNature

InovAir Ltd ("Pairfum")

Insphy

Institut Claude Bell

Internet Café-BG Ltd.

IRÉN

J Bloom Cosmetics

Java Cosmetics

Jax Wax

Jessica Laura Organics Ltd.

JL Cosmetica Natural

Jolie Vegan

Julie Clarke Candles

Kaia Naturals

Kalentin

Kama Soap

Karma Organic Spa

Kate Somerville

Kativa

Katmandu

Kiss the Moon Ltd

Kit and Kin

Koh Australia Pty Ltd

Kokoro Beauty and Lashes

Korah Tools

Kri Skincare Ltd

KUXTAL

Kylies

La petite main

Lab Phyto

Laber Organic Cosmetics

Laboratoire Hippocrate

La-Eva

Lano

Lanolips

Lanolips Pty Ltd

Laura Sanchez Makeup

LAV, Italy

Laviish

Leac de un Veac

Les Happy Curiennes

Li Cosmetic AG

LI Pigments

Lipstains Gold

Lisa Nail Lacquer

Lissea Limited

Little Danube Limited

Little Soap Company

Living Proof

LivOliv Cosmetics

Liz Earle

LLB Skin

Lock Stock & Barrel Grooming Co Ltd

London Copywright

Look Fabulous Forever

Loopy Products Limited

Love Beauty & Planet

Love Henri Ltd

Love Home & Planet

Lovely Pop

Lucy Bee Ltd

Lukasz Romuk Wodoracki t/a 1stDrop

Luna Bronze

Luna Nectar

M32 Natural

Ma Sista Stuff

Made for Life Organics

Made in Youthland

Magic Lips

Maison de Navar

Mama Zebra Cosmetics

ManCave Ltd.

Marie Hunter Beauty

Mark Birch Trichlogist

Marks & Spencer PLC

Mary Jean Limited

Matana Skincare

Mawena

Maysama Ltd

Medeau

Mediterranean Tan

Melchior & Balthazar

Menschen für Tierrechte – Bundesverband der - Tierversuchsgegner e.V. (People for Animal Rights – German Association Against Vivisection)

Mervue Natural Skincare

Milton Keynes Products Limited

Minoris Organik

MOB Beauty

Modern Botany

Molton Brown Limited

Mommy Makeup

Moss & Adams

Motherlylove Limited

MuLondon Ltd

Murad LLC

Myrtle & Maude Ltd.

Naissance

Nakin Skincare

Naroma

Natroma & The Natural Soapworks

Natura

Natura &Co

Natura Cosméticos S/A

Natural by Nature Oils Ltd

Naturally Tribal Skincare Ltd

Nature Knows Best

Nazan Schnapp GmbH

Neal's Yard (Natural Remedies) Ltd

Neat Wholesale

Neo Make Up

NeoHair Ltd

New Look Cosmetics

Nomad Cosmetics

Nubian Heritage

Nursem

Oceane

October Fields

Ofra Cosmetics

Om Oils

One Chem

Orbit Pad

Organic and Nature

ORGANii

Ouidad

Pachamamai

Pai Skincare Ltd.

Paima Beauty

Pamoja Skincare Ltd

Passion Cosmetics Paris

Patricia Deleon Cosmetics

Paula's Choice

Paws Beauty

Pee Safe

Perfect Girl

Persona Cosmetics

Pet Revolution Ltd

PETA Australia

PETA Deutschland e.V.

PETA France

PETA Nederland

PETA UK

PETA US

PHB Ethical Beauty Ltd

Phil Smith Be Gorgeous

Phil Smith Be Gorgeous Ltd

Planted

Planted Skincare

Pluscosmetica Duo

Poppy's Natural Skincare

Popwhite

Power Health Products

Power Health Products Ltd

Power Pets Brands

Previa S.p.A.

PRIIA Cosmetics

Primal Essence

Procarton

Pure Argan Co Ltd

Pure Chemistry S.A.S.

Pure Essence Collection Ltd

Raen

Rawgaia

Releaf

Ren Clean Skincare

Renpure

Reviv Serums

Rhug Organic & Natural Ltd

Rhug Wild Beauty

Romilly Wilde

Rosenserien

Royal Tara Giftware Limited

rue Santé

Safe Nails

SAHARA International Group

Salt of the Earth

SAMAYA Ayurveda Limited

Sampure Minerals

Sana Jardin Limited

Sanjeevita

Sanoll Biokosmetik GmbH

Santaverde GmbH

Sapunta Malta

SARFIreland

Sasy n Savy

Saving Face Limited

Schmidt’s Naturals

Secrets Cosmetiques

Seda

Sedal

Sensori Plus

Sepai Laboratories

Seraphine Botanicals

Seventh Generation

Shea Moisture

Shea Shea Bakery

Shea-Me Ltd

Silvan Skincare

Simple

Simple Alchemy

Siskyn Skincare

Sister & Co. Skin Food

six gldn

Skin Sapiens Ltd.

Skinny Sprinkles

SKN-RG Ltd.

Sky Organics

Smith England

Smol Ltd

Sno Eternelle

Soaper Delights

Sonia Orts

Spiezia Organics Ltd

Splosh Limited

St Ives

Starbrands S.A.C.

Stereo Color

Stichting Proefdiervrij

Suave

Suds

Sue Marsh

Sugar Coated Ltd

Sugar StripEase

Sukrit Ayurveda

Suma

Suma Wholefoods

Sunsilk

Suntegrity Skincare

Svoboda Zvířat, Czech Republic

Sweden Eco

Synergy Biologics

Tailored Beauty

Tan Organic

Tandem Skincare

Tarsago Ltd

Tatcha

Technology

teethlovers

The 7 Virtues

The Aftercare Company

The Barberia

The Beauty of Eczema

The Bio-D Company Ltd

The Body & Face Place

The Body Shop

The Co-Operative Group (CWS) Ltd

The Dartmoor Skincare Company

The Good Garden

The Good Stuff

The Green People Company

The Konjac Sponge Company Ltd

The London Oil Refining Company Ltd

The Naissance Trading & Innovation Co. Ltd.

The Natural Barber Co.

The Perfume Laboratory

The Pure Collection

The Victorian Garden Organic Skincare

Thermitek Ltd

Think Beecause

Thunderbird Skin

Tolteca

Total Solutions Inc

Trebol Verde

TRUE Skincare Limited

Two Orchards Ltd

Two Plants

TYH London

Ultra Glow

Ultra Glow Cosmetics Ltd

Unilever

Urban Veda

Vegan Beauty Care

Velveit Cosmetics

Velvet & Sweet Pea's Purrfumery

Ville de Fleurs

Visage Pro

Watermans

Wax Melts International Limited

White Rabbit Skincare Ltd.

Whitfords

Wiig

Wild & Wolf

Wilde Beauty Limited

Wildwash

Yaya Maria's

Yes Nurse

Y-Not Natural

You & Oil

Young ePure

Zendium

Zeva Organics

Zoya Goes Pretty

Zyderma