The impact of Brexit might not feel life-changingly serious to most of us so far, but the knock-on effects of the UK choosing to leave the EU are starting to take hold. However, after 23 years, and for the first time since 1998, the UK is considering re-starting animal testing for cosmetics.

In what many would see as a huge backward step for animal cruelty and ethics, the UK might be re-commencing the testing of certain cosmetic ingredients on animals. According to a letter published by the government, the UK is set to match a decision by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) that dictates that some specific ingredients must be tested on animals to ensure safety.

As part of the EU, previously the UK would be banned from such practices in line with union regulations. However, as free agents, the UK is now set to re-address its stance on the subject.

The ECHA ruling specifies two particular ingredients manufactured by German fragrance and flavour manufacturer Symrise that require animal testing in order to meet chemical safety standards.

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Unsurprisingly, the response to the government's decision to consider animal testing for cosmetics has been met with considerable backlash. Cruelty-Free International (CFI) was informed by the Home Office that the government had 'reconsidered its policy' on the subject. The Home Office also insisted that UK law on animal testing had not changed, but campaigners are concerned that the ruling could lead inevitably to wider use of the practice.

The Home Office continued to say in a letter sent to CFI and seen by The Guardian, that it aimed to "publicly clarify its position now with the formal publication of an updated policy and regulatory guidance."

After decades of campaigning for stricter rules around animal testing, with many beauty brands pulling their products from countries such as China where animal testing is required in order to sell cosmetics, the UK's compliance and legislation reversal is being seen as a blow to progress.

"This decision blows a hole in the UK’s longstanding leadership of no animal testing for cosmetics and makes a mockery of the country’s quest to be at the cutting edge of research and innovation, relying once again on cruel and unjustifiable tests that date back over half a century," CFI’s director of science and regulatory affairs, Dr Katy Taylor told The Guardian.

At a time where 84 per cent of consumers would not buy a cosmetic product if they knew it, or one of its ingredients, had been tested on animals (according to a 2020 survey by Frame), the UK's backtracking is not only out of step with current technology, it's also incongruous with current consumer and social attitudes towards the beauty industry. An industry that happens to be worth £27 billion to the UK. That's a lot of money to lose for the sake of an outdated and unnecessary practice.

If not for ethics or morality, then perhaps the UK will reconsider its reconsideration based on business.

From: ELLE UK