Report on the development, validation and legal acceptance of alternative methods to animal tests in the field of cosmetics (2009)

The present report is the ninth Commission report on the development, validation and legal acceptance of alternative methods to animal tests in the field of cosmetics. It has a twofold purpose:

- It is the yearly report in accordance with Article 9 of Council Directive 76/768/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products ("Cosmetics Directive"). In this regard it reflects the data on the number and type of experiments on animals relating to cosmetic products in 2009, as well as progress made in the development, validation and acceptance of alternative methods to animal testing in the Union and internationally.

- In addition, it informs the European Parliament and the Council that for technical reasons full replacement of the animal tests covered by the 2013 deadline will not be achieved before 11 March 2013. The report therefore fulfils the first part of the Commission obligation under Article 4a 2.3 of the Cosmetics Directive. This provision tasks the Commission to "inform the European Parliament and the Council" and to "put forward a legislative proposal in accordance with Article 251 of the Treaty" if the Commission analysis concludes by 2011 "that for technical reasons one or more tests referred to in paragraph 2.1 will not be developed and validated before the expiry of the period referred to in paragraph 2.1". This report does not prejudice how the Commission will respond to the second part, i.e. the decision how to address the lack of non-animal tests.

EUR-Lex: COM(2011)558: Follow the progress of this document through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2011:558:FIN

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