December 1998 News

Cosmetic Industry, Government in UK Agree to Stop Testing on Animals

December 9, 1998

In late November, representatives of British cosmetics companies, animal protection groups, and the Home Office (the British government agency responsible for regulating the use of animals in research and testing in Great Britain) reached an agreement to end animal testing of cosmetics in the UK.

The British government had previously announced that finished products would no longer be tested on animals in the UK, but this latest agreement includes animal testing of ingredients as well as finished products.

This "voluntary ban" was achieved through negotiation rather than legislation. The government won the agreement of industry members to hand in all remaining licenses for animal testing for cosmetics.

According to an announcement by the Home Office, the British government plans to continue negotiating for an end to animal testing for cosmetics at the EU level, where EU policy on cosmetics testing is currently under review.