§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the United Kingdom Government's position on proposals put forward by the European Parliament and Commission to phase out the use of animals to test cosmetics by 1 January 1998 when they were discussed by COREPER—the Committee of Permanent Representatives in September.
§ Mr. Leigh[holding answer 3 November 1992]: The United Kingdom position at the COREPER meeting on 16 September to discuss the proposed sixth council amendment to the directive on cosmetics was that tests on live animals for testing the safety of cosmetic ingredients should be phased out as soon as there are suitable validated alternatives. The Council has now reached a political agreement on a common position which includes a ban on the use of ingredients tested on animals after 1 January 1998, with a provision for the Commission to propose the postponement of the ban, in respect of the continuing need for particular tests, if alternative testing methods are not available by then.