Many are protesting the decision.
The British government, following EU legislation, again allows the use of animal testing for cosmetics after 25 years, he writes IFLScience. After the announcement, many cosmetic companies and animal protection groups condemned the decision.
The proposal was also examined by the UK Supreme Court and found to be in line with EU law. A Home Office spokesperson told the BBC that the government remained committed to protecting animals for scientific purposes.
In a letter written by Cruelty Free International following the announcement, more than 80 cosmetics companies condemned the UK’s leadership for missing an opportunity to prevent unnecessary animal testing for purely cosmetic purposes.
The UK was the first country to ban animal testing of cosmetics and cosmetic ingredients in 1998. This was later introduced by the European Union, however, in 2020 the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) introduced a new system requiring testing of makeup ingredients. For this, animals are mostly used, although a more advanced technological alternative is also available.
