Today, 11 March, marks the thirteenth anniversary of the EU law preventing the sale of all cosmetic products tested on animals – but we are not celebrating.

Animals are still suffering and dying in the name of beauty. With plans to revise both the EU Cosmetic Products Regulation (CPR) and the main EU chemicals law, REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) expected to be published later this year, the need to reinforce and protect this ban is getting increasingly urgent.

Despite huge public support for the ban, it has been undermined and weakened by the way it has been implemented in the EU. This has resulted in cruel animal tests continuing to be required by European authorities even on ingredients used solely in cosmetics. This includes products such as make-up, shampoo, moisturiser, soap, perfume, and toothpaste.

The ongoing misalignment between the CPR and REACH is of particular concern. In deciding whether cosmetics ingredients are to be tested on animals, REACH, and the animal testing it requires, has been given precedence over the animal testing bans in the CPR.

We are demanding that the bans within the CPR be protected and strengthened to ensure that all testing on animals of cosmetic products and their ingredients ends. The CPR must be implemented as originally intended, so that its bans on animal testing take precedence over any other EU chemicals law, including REACH.

The European Commission has recently replied to an open letter, sent in December 2025, which was signed by nine MEPs and 14 NGOs, urging the strengthening of the ban on animal testing for cosmetics. In the reply, the Commission “reaffirm the importance of upholding the ban on animal testing for cosmetics”.

The Commission’s reply also highlighted “the ambition of the EU as a global leader in humane scientific innovation”.

At the time the bans on animal testing for cosmetics were proposed, the Commission said “it is essential that the aim of abolishing animal experiments be pursued and that the prohibition of such experiments becomes effective”. Later, in 2013, the EU said “there can be no new animal testing for cosmetics purposes in the Union – be it for cosmetics products or ingredients thereof”.

However, in a November 2023 case, the General Court (the first level of the European Court of Justice) ruled that German cosmetics manufacturer Symrise AG must conduct animal testing on two previously-approved ingredients used exclusively in sunscreens.

This underlines why this opportunity must be taken to further bolster the CPR. Not only is it a key measure within the EU to prevent tests on animals for the sake of cosmetics, the EU bans have also been the benchmark for similar bans around the world.

Over 1.2 million people demanded the protection and strengthening of the EU ban on animal testing for cosmetics by signing our ‘Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics’ European Citizens’ Initiative, which was launched in August 2021 by a coalition of European animal protection groups. In response, the European Commission committed to publishing a roadmap towards the full replacement of animal testing for chemicals (including cosmetics) in the European Union. That roadmap is expected to be published by the end of April 2026.

Our Chief Executive, Michelle Thew said: “It is shocking that we are still having to fight on behalf of animals in laboratories 13 years on from the ban on the sale of all cosmetics products tested on animals. Even more distressing is the fact that more and more animal testing is being required by regulators for ingredients in cosmetics, against the wishes of European consumers and cosmetics brands.

“We welcome the promise of a roadmap to bring about the end animal testing for chemicals. However, the failure of our current laws to stop tests on animals for cosmetics is a very pressing concern right now. Instead of positive steps forward, the undermining of the cosmetics product regulation and its animal testing bans risks taking us backwards, just as we thought that animal testing for cosmetics would become a thing of the past. We demand the strengthening of the CPR we have today and long-lasting change to regulatory toxicity testing and research. It is high time for Europe to evolve past cruel and outdated animal testing.”