§ Mr. CawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on(a) his policy on a EU ban on cosmetics tested on animals and (b) the impact of this policy on the UK-wide ban on cosmetics tested on animals; and if he will make a statement. [160361]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Government are seriously committed to ensuring the protection of animal welfare. Currently the UK has a voluntary ban on animal tests for cosmetic products and ingredients. However, we believe that securing an EU ban on testing cosmetic products and ingredients on animals, as proposed in the Council's draft 7th Amendment to the Cosmetics Directive, is an important step to achieving real improvements in animal welfare across the whole of the European Community.