[Your address]

[date]

Dear [name of MEP]

EU Marketing Ban on Animal-Tested Cosmetics

Back in 2003, the European Union passed the 7th Amendment to the Cosmetics Directive,
which requires that cosmetics containing ingredients tested on animals must be banned
from sale in the EU in 2013. Importantly, the Commission stated in a report the following
year that this ban will be introduced “irrespective of the availability of alternative non-
animal tests”.

However, I am extremely concerned that the European Commission appears to be

reneging on this stance, which was agreed by all EU institutions, and is instead paving
the way for a delay in the ban as a result of pressure from cosmetics companies who
continue to conduct animal tests outside the EU.

The unconditional nature of the ban is of enormous ethical and democratic significance. It
reflects the view of the majority of European citizens who, like me, do not wish to
purchase cosmetics containing ingredients tested on animals because we believe that the
development of new cosmetics does not justify the suffering caused. A YouGov poll
conducted for Uncaged found 60% of the public believe that animal-tested cosmetics
should be banned, with only 14% disagreeing.

It is crucial to understand that this is not a safety issue because animal testing for
cosmetics is driven by the requirement to test new-to-the-world chemicals. Therefore,
companies can continue to ensure the safety of their cosmetics products by utilising the
thousands of existing ingredients which have already been tested.

I strongly believe that the ethical principle that it is wrong to inflict pain and suffering on
animals for trivial and unnecessary purposes must underpin the EU approach to the
Cosmetics Directive if the EU is to retain moral and democratic legitimacy.
Fundamentally, this is a social justice issue rather than a technical one. Furthermore, a
delay in the 2013 ban would also remove a key incentive for industry to invest in and
develop non-animal alternatives to all toxicity tests, thereby undermining not only animal
welfare but human health, given the scientific weaknesses in animal test methods.

I am also concerned that the Cosmetics Products Regulation which has superceded the
Directive fails to stipulate public access to the animal testing aspect of mandatory
product information files. I believe that such openness is essential to allow the public to
make informed choices about which cosmetics to purchase.

I would be very grateful if you could let me know if you can support my stance on this
matter and what action you can take to defend the 2013 marketing ban and ensure
public access to animal testing product information.

Yours sincerely