§ Mr. HoonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to support any moves to strengthen the common position on the proposed cosmetics directive with respect to the phasing out of cosmetic tests on animals when it is discussed by the Council of Ministers.
§ Mr. LeighThe common position on the proposed sixth Council amendment to the EC cosmetics directive agreed by the member states under the United Kingdom presidency last year represents a fair and reasonable balance between the concerns of those who wish to phase out testing on animals of the ingredients of personal care products and the need to protect the consumer by ensuring 597W that alternative non-animal tests are validated. I do not believe there is scope for strengthening the measure without jeopardising the proposal as a whole.