§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans she has to take(a) legal and (b) other action against British-based companies and their subsidiaries which carry out cosmetic testing on animals outside of the EU where such testing is illegal within the EU. [80838]
(2)what recent assessment she has made of (a)UK and (b) European legislation in relation to cosmetic testing on animals; and if she will make a statement. [80839]
(3)what legal advice she has (a) commissioned and (b)received to establish whether an EU ban on the marketing of cosmetics tested on animals would be acceptable under the WTO regime. [80851]
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidance her Department offers to British companies in respect of the use of animals for cosmetic testing purposes. [81597]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answers 20 November 2002]A ban on animal testing finished cosmetic products was introduced in the UK in 1997 and a subsequent ban on animal testing cosmetic of ingredients was introduced in the UK in 1998. These bans are to be made Europe-wide following the recently agreed 7th amendment to the Cosmetics Directive.
This Amendment will introduce a ban on the testing of finished cosmetic products on animals. It will also introduce a ban on the sale in the EU of cosmetic products or their ingredients which have been tested on animals, once alternative tests are in place. It will also, 34W within 10 years, prohibit the marketing in the EU of cosmetic products which have been tested on animals wherever in the world that testing might have been carried out.