Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage a ban on (a) animal testing for cosmetics and (b) the sale of animal-tested cosmetics.

​ Although the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is not responsible for policy on animal testing for cosmetics, or the sale of animal tested cosmetics, the FCO has supported the Home Office through diplomatic engagement via our overseas network on this subject.

For example, since 2013, the Home Office and the FCO/BEIS Science and Innovation Network in Beijing has continued to support China to bring an end to unnecessary cosmetics testing on animals, advising on a science-based approach for alternative testing.