[Fwd: COSMETICS ANIMAL TESTING BAN BECOME LAW]

[Guest guest]

Subj: BUAV Campaign Update: EU VOTES " YES " TO SEE COSMETICS ANIMAL TEST

ING BAN BECOME LAW, BUT BUAV CALLS DELAY ON ACTION " SHAMEFUL "

15/01/2003 14:46:21 GMT Standard Time

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EU VOTES " YES " TO SEE COSMETICS ANIMAL TESTING BAN BECOME LAW, BUT BUAV

CALLS DELAY ON ACTION " SHAMEFUL "

 

Today on Wednesday 15th January 2003 the European Parliament took its

final

vote and endorsed the joint text agreed by a Conciliation Committee in

November 2002 to ban EU cosmetics animal testing and introduce an EU ban

on

the sale of new animal tested cosmetics.

 

Leading anti-vivisection campaigners the British Union for the Abolition

of

Vivisection (BUAV), which has been lobbying and campaigning to end EU

cosmetics animal testing for many years, has cautiously welcomed the

vote

but warns that the legislation will not be the best that could have been

 

achieved for laboratory animals.

 

Wendy Higgins BUAV Campaigns Director, says:

" There's no doubt that a Europe-wide ban on cosmetics animal testing is

an

historic achievement, and MEPs and animal campaigners have worked

incredibly

hard to bring it about. However, it is utterly shameful that it has

taken

thirteen-years to make it happen, and even more shameful that lab

animals in

Europe will be forced to endure another six years of cosmetics testing

before this abominable practice is finally outlawed and at least a

decade

before the vital sales ban could take hold. "

 

The BUAV also warns that a " get out clause " contained in the sales ban

for

three of the cruellest animal test areas (see point 3 below) could allow

the

animal testing cosmetics industry to delay the introduction of a

complete

sales ban.

 

Wendy Higgins BUAV Campaigns Director, says:

" The 'get out clause' potentially allows industry to side-step a total

sales

ban by claiming that insufficient non-animal tests are available. The

cosmetics industry has lobbied aggressively to water-down these

proposals

already, and I doubt we've heard the last of them on this issue.

Securing

the sales ban is vital but not just for animal tested cosmetics. It

demonstrates that exaggerated concerns about a World Trade Organisation

challenge must not be allowed to stand in the way of progressive and

compassionate legislation as it has in the past and that could reap huge

 

benefits in the future not just for animal welfare but also for human

rights

and environmental protection. "

 

The Plenary has voted for:

1. A complete animal testing ban six years from entry into force (around

 

2009)

2. An sale ban from 2009 for the majority of animal tests.

3. A sale ban from 2013 - 10 years after entry into force - for the

further

3 test areas identified by Parliament at second reading (toxicokinetics,

 

reproductive toxicity, repeat dose toxicity). This sale ban contains a

" get

out clause " - it can be delayed if insufficient non-animal tests have

been

developed.

 

Notes to Ed:

1. A Conciliation Committee agreed a joint text on Wednesday 6th Nov

2002.

2. In 1989 the European Parliament first passed a resolution calling

on

the EU Commission to " formulate a directive with the aim of ending the

use

of animals for decorative cosmetic testing " .

3. A final vote by the Council of Ministers later this month is to

take

place, after which the measures are likely to become EU law. The

Council's

third reading is expected during the Agriculture Council of 27/28

January.

 

 

forwarded by

 

Chris Deacon MSFA, ACII, Chartered Insurance Practitioner.

 

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