Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many licences, and to whom, they have granted for animal testing of cosmetic ingredients since the start of 2019.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Animal testing of cosmetics for consumer safety has been banned in the UK since 1998 and this remains in force.

On 17 May 2023 the Government announced it is going further by banning, with immediate effect, licences to test ingredients exclusively used in the production of cosmetics for the purposes of worker safety.

The Home Secretary has issued a Written Ministerial Statement, which can be found here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-05-17/hcws779.

The Home Office does not publish details of licensed establishments.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons her Department allows licenses for animal testing of cosmetic ingredients to be issued in certain circumstances.

Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)

Animal testing of cosmetics for consumer safety has been banned in the UK since 1998 and this remains in force.

On 17 May 2023 the Government announced it is going further by banning, with immediate effect, licences to test ingredients exclusively used in the production of cosmetics for the purposes of worker safety.

The Home Secretary has issued a Written Ministerial Statement, which can be found here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-05-17/hcws779.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications for her Department's policies of the High Court ruling on the licensing of animal testing for cosmetic ingredients on 5 May 2023.

Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)

Animal testing of cosmetics for consumer safety has been banned in the UK since 1998 and this remains in force.

On 17 May 2023 the Government announced it is going further by banning, with immediate effect, licences to test ingredients exclusively used in the production of cosmetics for the purposes of worker safety.

The Home Secretary has issued a Written Ministerial Statement, which can be found here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-05-17/hcws779

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment had been made of the efficacy of existing non-animal methods of safety testing of cosmetic products ingredients before it began issuing licenses for animal testing.

Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As the GB regulator for REACH, HSE has closely supported the development of a number of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines on in vitro toxicity testing which are recognised as the international standard. These tests are applicable for testing on a diverse range of chemical substances which can include cosmetic product ingredients. Other methods such as predictive computer modelling can also be used as appropriate.

Modern alternatives mean there are opportunities to design non-animal testing strategies for these chemicals so that worker and environmental safety is unlikely to be compromised, and potentially enhanced. In this way, working with industry, the Government is seeking to improve safety by the application of new non-animal science and technology.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many licenses for animal testing of cosmetic ingredients have been issued since 2019 as a result of the European Chemicals Agency ruling; and to whom those licenses were issued.

Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)

Animal testing of cosmetics for consumer safety has been banned in the UK since 1998 and this remains in force.

On 17 May 2023 the Government announced it is going further by banning, with immediate effect, licences to test ingredients exclusively used in the production of cosmetics for the purposes of worker safety.

The Home Secretary has issued a Written Ministerial Statement, which can be found here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-05-17/hcws779.

Since 2019, the Animals in Science Regulation Unit has granted seven project licences, or amendments to licences, that specifically authorise the testing on animals of chemicals for use as ingredients in cosmetics under the REACH regulations.

The Home Office does not publish details of licensed establishments.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to prevent animal testing for cosmetic (a) products and (b) product ingredients.

Answered by Rachel Maclean

The Home Office is responsible for the operation of the regulatory framework underpinning the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

The Home Office’s role is to protect the animals used in science by ensuring in so far as possible that relevant bodies and individuals comply with their duties under the ASPA.

The Home Office do this through considering and making decisions on applications for licences for testing, based on the underlying legal requirements, as well as carrying out enforcement activity and compliance assurance activities during the lifetime of a licence, for example through inspections. This includes ensuring that no animal testing is conducted in circumstances where there are practicable alternatives.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions has she had with large cosmetic firms in the UK on cosmetic testing on (a) mice, (b) rats and (c) other small animals.

Answered by Rachel Maclean

The Secretary of State for the Home Department has not had recent conversations with cosmetic firms in the United Kingdom.

Found: HC Deb 06 Sep tember 2023 | PQ 195527 • Cosmetics: Animal Experiments Asked by: Hardy, Emma