UK: Government Bans Issuance of Licenses for Animal Testing of Cosmetic Ingredients

The UK government has implemented a prohibition on granting licenses for the testing of cosmetic ingredients on animals. This decision follows a recent court judgment that found that ministers changed a longstanding policy against animal testing to align with new European Union (EU) regulations for chemicals. These regulations stipulate animal testing for certain cosmetic ingredients to ensure the safety of workers involved in their manufacturing. On 17 May 2023, Home Secretary Suella Braverman informed the UK Parliament that no additional licenses will be issued for the animal testing of chemicals exclusively used in cosmetics. The government is engaging with companies to explore alternative approaches for existing licenses. (Statement Suella Braverman)