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Brussels, 16/01/2003
European Parliament strengthens consumer safety and information
on cosmetic products
Brussels, 16 January 2003- EURO COOP, the European Association of Consumer Co-operatives today welcomed the European Parliament vote on the seventh amendment of Directive 76/768/EEC on cosmetics. By supporting the compromise reached by the Conciliation Committee last November, Members of the European Parliament demonstrated their intention to ensure consumer safety and information on cosmetic products.
Euro Coop welcomed the prohibition of substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR). " The European Parliament made the right decision over hazardous substances. It has rightly understood that prohibiting these substances is important in guaranteeing consumer safety", comments Aude L'hirondel, Euro Coop Food Policy Officer. "Euro Coop is satisfied that the European decisions-makers have followed the European scientists advice to prohibit CMRs in everyday consumer products, including cosmetics" .
Euro Coop is also pleased that the European Parliament enshrined in law the right of consumers to make informed choices over cosmetics. Informing consumers about quantities of hazardous substances and allergens present in a product and providing them with data on adverse health effects is clearly a step forward towards better consumer protection. "Tools must also be provided to consumers who want to avoid cosmetics products tested on animals for ethical reasons to be able to do so. We welcome the labelling clause on animal testing - even if we are disappointed that the labelling requirement will not be compulsory", explains Aude L'hirondel. "Several Euro Coop member organisations have very stringent non-animal testing policies, and in some cases none of their health and beauty products have been tested on animals since 1985".
The compromise over the ban on animal testing and the marketing of cosmetic products is acceptable, although Euro Coop is disappointed about the time-scales planned - up to ten years in some cases! We congratulate the European Parliament for fighting for a marketing ban, otherwise, animals would have been subjected to these tests in other parts of the world instead and the original objectives of the Directive would have been distorted.
EURO COOP is confident that the Council will confirm the EP's promotion and defence of the basic consumer rights to purchase safe products and to make informed choices.
For further information, contact:
Dónal WALSHE, Secretary General
or
Aude L'hirondel, Food Policy Officer
Tel.: +32.(0)2.285.00.74 - Fax: +32.(0)2.231.07.57 - E-mail: alhirondel@eurocoop.org
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