The ECI was launched by Dove, The Body Shop and over 100 animal protection organisations and asked EU policy-makers to:
- Protect and strengthen its existing animal testing ban for cosmetics
- Transform EU chemicals regulation, protecting human health and the environment without new animal testing requirements
- And commit to a roadmap to phase out all animal testing in the EU by quickly phasing in non-animal approaches based on modern science.
With the votes now verified, the European Commission will now meet with campaigners and address citizens’ concerns.
At Unilever we’ve been committed to using science, not animals to assure product and ingredient safety for decades. This is why we took action when we learned in August 2020 that the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) was calling for new animal tests on ingredients widely used in consumer products with a long history of safe use. The move effectively ended the EU’s long-standing ban on animal testing for cosmetics, putting countless animals at risk.
We’re seeking the modernisation of regulatory approaches to enable greater use of the exciting new science and tools developed over the past decade. Breakthroughs that mean that ingredients and products can be scientifically proven to be safe and more sustainable – without animal testing. To achieve this we’re partnering with other experts & organisations to develop new assessment frameworks for chemicals that will help accelerate the transition to animal-free innovation.
“We have reached a significant tipping point for the regulatory use of non-animal science for assessing chemical safety,” says Dr Julia Fentem, Head of the Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre at Unilever.
“The next three to five years will be critical in implementing regulatory change by agreeing and working on a shared roadmap to accelerate phasing in non-animal approaches based on modern science while phasing out outdated animal testing. Meanwhile, those involved in developing and applying advanced non-animal tools must persist in speaking up, with passion, conviction and commitment, if we are to seize the opportunity to fundamentally change the methods and data used to assure chemical safety by all company and regulatory scientists.’’, Julia adds.
Watch a presentation about Unilever’s work in non-animal science here.
Over 1 million signatures opposing new animal tests. What next? | Unilever