§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to support the proposals from the European Parliament and European Commission to amend the cosmetics directive 76/769 with regard to animal testing.
§ Mr. LeighI have been asked to reply.
The Government's policy in the negotiations on the proposed sixth Council amendment to the cosmetics directive is to keep animal testing to a minimum consistent with human safety. In recognition of the progress made in developing skin and eye irritancy tests, the United Kingdom has called on the European Community to set 1998 as a target date for the replacement of animal tests in those areas subject to there being validated alternatives. We will continue to press for a reduction in animal testing and we hope that during our presidency member states will 909W agree to the phasing out of testing on animals when they can be replaced with suitably validated non-animal alternatives.