The yearly report on Alternative Methods to Animal Tests in the Field of Cosmetics presented by the European Commission to the European Parliament and Council stresses the continued commitment to find alternative approaches. Despite this commitment and progress in research finding alternative methods for testing these remaining complex endpoints will not be possible by the 2013 deadline.

The European Commission published its yearly report on Alternative Methods to Animal Tests in the Field of Cosmetics. The report shows that for many of the tests needed to ensure the safety of cosmetic products alternative methods are developed and validated by now. However, work continues to close the remaining gap for the small number of the most complex effects on health for which the marketing ban deadline comes into force in March 2013.

The Cosmetics Directive prohibits animal testing in the EU of finished cosmetic products since 2004, animal testing of ingredients of cosmetic products is prohibited since 2009. A marketing ban is also in place which prohibits selling in the EU cosmetic products containing ingredients which have been tested on animals irrespective of the place of the testing after March 2009. However, despite the commitment and progress in research finding alternative methods for testing these remaining complex endpoints will not be possible by the 2013 deadline according to the Commission's report. The experts consider that full replacement is not possible, but there is potential for partial replacement strategies and developing a 'toolbox' of test methods to be improved until the goal can be reached.

The Commission underlined that the lack of full alternatives does not mean that the deadline will be postponed. In fact, the European Commission is currently assessing the impacts of the implementation of the full marketing ban by 2013 (environmental, animal welfare, economic and social) and on the basis of that assessment will decide whether or not to make a proposal in relation to the marketing ban. It will announce its final decision by the end of 2011.