Executive Summary

On 27 February 2003, Directive 2003/15/EC on the approximation of the laws of the EU Member States relating to cosmetics products was adopted as the 7th Amendment to the Cosmetics Directive. It introduces new provisions related to non-animal testing of cosmetic finished products and ingredients. In particular, it establishes a prohibition to test finished cosmetic products and cosmetic ingredients on animals (the testing ban), and a prohibition to market in the European Union (EU), finished cosmetic products and ingredients included in cosmetic products which were tested on animals (the marketing ban).