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UK
Government ‘slammed by BUAV’
The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) reacted
angrily to news that the UK Government has once again ‘betrayed’
laboratory animals as well as the millions of UK citizens seeking
an end to EU animal testing for cosmetics.
After months of disagreement over proposed amendments to the
EU Cosmetics Directive to outlaw EU cosmetics animal testing
and the sale of animal tested cosmetics, the European Parliament
and Council of Ministers are now in conciliation. At the first
conciliation committee meeting in Brussels on 7th October, the
UK Government defended the cosmetics industry and argued against
Parliament's strong stance on animal testing, despite the depth
of public opinion on the issue.
Members of the European Parliament have voted repeatedly for
an EU ban on the sale of cosmetics tested on animals (as well
as an animal testing ban), while the Council claims, despite
legal opinion to the contrary, that such a ban would damage
the interests of industry and fall foul of World Trade Organisation
(WTO) rules.
The UK's position has remained unchanged; earlier this year
Council adopted a common position that was set to undermine
the position of the European Parliament. At the time the UK
vote was the deciding factor, breaking a 'blocking minority'
of smaller countries committed to the proposed sale ban.
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