Trading Standards to probe firms for possible violations of Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations

The UK's Department for Business, Energy, Industrial Strategy has urged Trading Standards to investigate multiple cosmetics firms for possible violations of the 2013 Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations.

The move follows a complaint by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and a petition signed by more than 15,000 supporters. It urged investigation of brands such as Benefit, Bliss, Caudalie, Clarins, Clinique, Dior, Estée Lauder, Gucci, and Revlon.

Trading Standards will ensure these companies are not violating the law by depending on animal test data to demonstrate product safety in the EU, that companies declare all animal testing data in their product files, and that consumers are not misled about the cruelty-free status of products.

PETA's science advisor Dr Julia Baines said: “We welcome this announcement by the government as a crucial step in determining whether cosmetics companies are violating the marketing ban on animal-tested cosmetics.

“It’s absolutely clear that the British public doesn’t want cosmetics tested on animals and many consumers will be utterly shocked to hear that their beauty regime may be supporting such cruelty.”

In 2015, PETA research concluded that at least nine leading cosmetics companies may be violating UK and European legislation. Publicly available information from the China Food and Drug Administration indicates many cosmetics products readily available on the shelves of UK stores are also registered in China, where tests on animals for cosmetics are still compulsory.

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Image: PETA has urged Trading Standards to ensure that companies are not violating the law by depending on data from animal tests. Photo: courtesy of Janet Stephens/Wikipedia.