A statement from the ASRU Policy team has been issued today with an update on this topic
While there has been a ban on the animal testing of cosmetics and their ingredients for consumer safety (the testing ban) and also for marketing purposes (the marketing ban) for many years (regulations owned by the Department for Business and Trade) and this has not changed, the testing on animals of chemicals that are used as ingredients in cosmetics has been required (as a last resort) under chemicals (REACH) regulations for worker/environment safety (regulations owned by Defra)
Having reflected on the issue, the Government has announced that, from today, no new licences will be issued for animal testing of chemicals used exclusively as cosmetic ingredients. There are a small number of existing licences and we are engaging with the relevant companies to determine a way forward
While the licensing ban is in place, the Government will review the evidence for the implementation of a ban in the longer term
We have engaged with key organisations in the sector, including Unilever and the UK Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA), who have welcomed this development
The Home Secretary has issued a Written Ministerial Statement to members of Parliament, which contains further details and can be found here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-05-17/hcws779.
