Parliamentary questions

Subject: Implementation of the 7th Amendment to the Cosmetic Directive 76/768/EEC

Answer(s)

Can the Commission confirm 11 March 2013 as the final deadline for the implementation of the 7th Amendment to the Cosmetic Directive 76/768/EEC? Is a delay expected with regard to the Directive's full implementation? Can the Commission describe in detail the timeline for phasing out the sale of cosmetics using certain types of extra animal testing practised outside the EU, which is not currently covered by the Directive, including a detailed chronology of the proposed policy actions?

Answer given by Mr Dalli on behalf of the Commission

The Commission would like to draw the Honourable Members attention to the Commission answers to Written Questions E‑24/11, E‑25/11, P‑175/11, E‑689/11 and E‑948/11(1), which all address similar questions. As regards the sale of cosmetics using animal testing practiced outside Europe, these are addressed by the marketing ban in the Cosmetics Directive. The marketing ban in the European Union for cosmetic products tested on animals or containing ingredients tested on animals applies since March 2009. However an extended implementation period until 11 March 2013 applies in relation to repeated-dose toxicity, reproductive toxicity and toxicokinetics. Therefore the marketing of products that were tested outside the EU in order to meet the requirements of the Cosmetics Directive is already banned with this limited exemption which expires on 11 March 2013. Without any change to the existing legislation the marketing ban in relation to these endpoints will come into force automatically on that date. The Commission is currently analysing the availability of alternatives and the impacts of the 2013 deadline; this process is described in the answers to the above-referenced written questions.

Ban on animal testing

http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/sectors/cosmetics/animal-testing/index_en.htm