Ban on animal testing of cosmetics

As of Monday, it became illegal to sell cosmetics that have been tested on animals within the EU - including Norway.

For the past ten years there have been strict regulations in place to control when and how animal testing is used in the production of cosmetics. On Monday the EU tightened the rules even further, and banned all import and sales of cosmetics that have been tested on animals within Europe.

Pharmaceuticals are exempted from the new rules, including Botox, although some of them are used cosmetically.

The ban on animal testing in cosmetics will first and foremost be relevant in the production of new products, as well as the development of existing products, says Julie Tesdal Håland of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

"Cosmetics that have already been legally tested on animals will not be taken off the market," Tesdal explains.

(NRK)

Julie Ryland