Edward Davey MP
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs)
Department For Business, Innovation and Skills
1 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0ET

17 January 2011

Dear Edward,

Animal Testing - 2013 European Union Deadline

I am writing to you in pursuant of your response to my Parliamentary Question (dated 12th January 2011) concerning the potential delay to the 2013 European Union deadline for a ban on the sale of cosmetic products containing ingredients tested on animals.

The 2013 European Union ban follows on from bans introduced in 2004 and 2009 to inhibit the use of animal testing in cosmetic testing and sales, in response to considerable opposition from the public for using animals to test cosmetic products.

I welcome your support and confirmation that the 2013 ban will cover tests that include repeat toxicity, reproductive toxicity and toxicokinectics. However, I understand that the European Commission are currently considering the possibility of proposing a delay to the 2013 deadline in the event that non-animal test methods have been developed in time. I am deeply concerned about this potential change to the Directive for ethical reasons for ending animal testing and due to public resistance to animal testing for cosmetic purposes.

There are a number of existing cosmetic ingredients that can be safely used - and reformulated to create additional products - without the need to test on animals. I should be grateful if you can please confirm that you will be taking the necessary steps to prevent the delay the 2013 European Union deadline banning the sale of cosmetics containing ingredients tested on animals and are committed to introducing a national ban from 2013 regardless of any changes made to the Cosmetics Directive.

I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Lucas, MP, Brighton Pavilion