{"id":764560,"date":"2021-08-17T08:32:40","date_gmt":"2021-08-17T12:32:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/animalrightswatch.us\/?p=764560"},"modified":"2021-08-17T09:10:13","modified_gmt":"2021-08-17T13:10:13","slug":"new-uk-regulation-could-allow-animal-tests-for-cosmetic-ingredients-for-first-time-since-1998","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/animalrightswatch.us\/?p=764560","title":{"rendered":"MADE-UP MINDS: New UK regulation allows animal tests for cosmetic ingredients for first time since 1998"},"content":{"rendered":"\t
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The government regulation is saying that even ingredients used solely in cosmetics, and with a history of safe use, can now be subjected to animal tests in the UK.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\n

NATALIE GROVER:<\/strong> UK ministers have opened the door to expanding the use of animal testing to ingredients used in cosmetic products for the first time in 23 years, an animal welfare charity has said… A 2020 survey from UK charity Frame found that 84% of respondents would not buy a cosmetics product if they knew it, or one of its ingredients, had been tested on animals… Cruelty Free International (CFI) said animal testing on ingredients exclusively used in cosmetics \u2013 which was banned in the UK in 1998 \u2013 could be required, after being told by the Home Office that the government had \u201creconsidered its policy”.<\/p>\n

In a letter, the government said it was aligning itself with a decision made last year by the appeals board of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), which said that some ingredients used only in cosmetics needed to be tested on animals to ensure they were safe… CFI has warned that by aligning itself with the ECHA decision, the UK would be \u201cblowing a hole\u201d in its leadership on animal testing… Kerry Postlewhite, CFI\u2019s director of public affairs, said the letter signalled the UK will not hold firm on animal testing bans after Brexit…<\/p>\n

The Home Office insisted that UK law on animal testing had not changed, but campaigners warned that accepting the ECHA\u2019s ruling could lead to a much wider use of animal testing. The ECHA ruled that German chemicals firm Symrise had to carry out animal tests on two ingredients used solely in cosmetics to satisfy chemicals regulations, overruling EU restrictions on animal testing of cosmetic ingredients. The ingredients are widely used across a range of cosmetics…<\/p>\n

CFI\u2019s director of science and regulatory affairs, Dr Katy Taylor, said: \u201cthe government is saying that even ingredients used solely in cosmetics, and with a history of safe use, can be subjected to animal tests in the UK\u201d. \u201cThis decision blows a hole in the UK\u2019s longstanding leadership of no animal testing for cosmetics and makes a mockery of the country\u2019s quest to be at the cutting edge of research and innovation, relying once again on cruel and unjustifiable tests that date back over half a century.\u201d<\/p>\n

In response, a government spokesperson said there had been no change in legislation and that the ban on using animals for the testing of finished cosmetic products remained in force. \u201cUnder UK regulations to protect the environment and the safety of workers, animal testing can be permitted, where required by UK regulators, on single or multi-use ingredients. However, such testing can only be conducted where there are no non-animal alternatives,\u201d they said…<\/p>\n

Dr Julia Fentem, head of the safety and environmental assurance centre of Unilever, one of the world\u2019s largest manufacturers of cosmetics, said that sophisticated approaches that can ensure the safety of cosmetics without using animals already exist… \u201cAnd then you\u2019ve got these regulations which just don\u2019t align with the science that we\u2019ve got”… She said the move by the UK signalled a complete reversal of the leadership on no animal testing for cosmetics. SOURCE…<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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