EU: Court ruling requires animal testing of two cosmetic-only ingredients

On 22 November 2023, the General Court of the European Court of Justice gave two decisions (case numbers T‑655/20 and T‑656/20) mandating the German cosmetics manufacturer Symrise to carry out toxicity tests on animals for two sunscreen ingredients under REACH (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals). The cosmetic ingredient manufacturer had previously appealed against a decision by the European Chemicals Agency ECHA to undertake these tests. It is feared that this case will set a damaging precedent for toxicity testing of cosmetics ingredients, even where they have long been approved as safe for use. By contrast, the UK government has announced in May 2023 that it will implement a ban on animal testing for ingredients used exclusively in cosmetics, to protect consumer, worker and environmental safety.