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The UK government has allowed animal testing for makeup ingredients to resume despite a 25-year ban by the EU.

The move follows a change to EU chemical rules that allowed companies to test some ingredients used in cosmetics on animals to ensure they were safe for workers manufacturing the ingredients.

The British High Court confirmed this in a report that indicated that licenses for animal testing of cosmetic ingredients have still been issued since 2019.

Apparently, this is in line with EU rules, despite the UK not being part of the EU since 2020.

The High Court has now called the law legal, which means that rats can once more be forced to inhale chemicals commonly found in foundations and concealers.

“We are pleased that the High Court has agreed with the Government’s position in this case. The government is committed to the protection of animals in science”.

The move has been condemned by more than 80 companies that said they were ‘dismayed’ by the high court approval of the law.

Animal testing for makeup or its ingredients had been completely banned in the UK since 1998. Animal testing had only been allowed if the benefits gained from the research outweighed any animal suffering, for example for medicines.

Cruelty Free International (CFI) brought the government to court over the issuing of licenses, but Justice Linden ruled in favour of the government, saying that the change in policy still met existing laws.

Unilever, Body Shop, and Boots have joined the condemnation, saying that most cosmetics have come around to not using animals as test subjects, with this being a step back to crueller days.

“Allowing animal testing for cosmetics would be a devastating blow to the millions of people who have supported campaigns to end this appalling practice.”

The ingredients that may be tested on animals include homosalate – a common sunscreen ingredient used already in many foundations and skincare products.

The decision will no doubt be heavily campaigned against, and good thing too. Haven’t we moved beyond the stage where you needed to test chemicals on bunnies? With advances in modern science and chemistry, some of these tests have been branded unnecessary by even the head of safety and environmental assurance at Unilever.

Perhaps these brands that use animal testing need to be named and shamed so we can target the only thing they apparently do care about – money.

[source:bbc]