Guest guest Posted July 12, 2001 Report Share Posted July 12, 2001 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will be voting later this year on the Cosmetics Directive. The directive aims to ban the sale of animal tested cosmetics and the testing of cosmetics on animals within the EU. However, the European Commision is under industry pressure to relax the restriction on sale of animal tested products (so companies can test outside the EU but still sell there). So far, EU parliament has voted for the existing directive, so we mustn't let them weaken their position. I've heard from the Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas who sits as vice- chair on the EU parliament's Animal Welfare Intergroup and she has been trying to ensure the sale ban remains in the directive. She mentions that she has had hundreds of letters on this subject, which is great. We can do our bit by writing to our MEPs to ensure they maintain their position. This is one that we can win, for once with a politician with some influence who is on-side. A list of UK MEPs is below. You can also write to Caroline Jackson MEP who is chair of the Environment Committee who will be advising MEPs who do not have the chance to hear all the arguments but will be voting. Urge her to support the ban (Caroline Jackson MEP, Euro Office, 14 Bath Road, Swindon SN1 4BA). Point out " that animal based toxicity testing is inhumane and scientifically unreliable. By contrast non-animal alternative techniques are more ethical, reliable and often faster and cheaper to perform. Animal experiments should be eliminated from the Commission's proposed chemicals testing strategy, and replaced with in vitro alternatives. As part of this strategy, the fast-track validation of priority alternatives is key. Specific action should be proposed on fast-tracking the validation and regulatory acceptance of alternative tests. " (from BUAV website). More information available from the BUAV website (www.buav.org), where there is also an on-line petition to sign. There are also details of other campaigns, such as the attack on cruelty-free labelling. I think success in this ban could be a significant step (if only for cosmetics/toiletries). If big american/transnational companies suddenly cannot sell their products to EU because they are animal tested, they may start to consider humane alternatives more seriously. Who knows where that could lead! Over the next few days I'll be writing my letters, so if you need some guidance, let me know. -- Rob UK MEPs: (Addresses are here: http://wwwdb.europarl.eu.int/ep5/owa/p_meps.short_list? ilg=EN & ictry=GB & ipolgrp=PPE-DE & iorig= - if link does not work try www.europarl.eu.int/ and navigate to English->Members->then choose country). 1. Mrs JACKSON, Caroline F. , Chairman Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats 2. Mr BOWE, David Robert , Member Group of the Party of European Socialists 3. Mr BOWIS, John , Member Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats 4. Mr CALLANAN, Martin , Member Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats 5. Mr DAVIES, Chris , Member Group of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party 6. Mr GOODWILL, Robert, Member Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats 7. Mrs STIHLER, Catherine , Member Group of the Party of European Socialists 8. Mr WHITEHEAD, Phillip , Member Group of the Party of European Socialists 9. Mrs ATTWOOLL, Elspeth , Substitute Group of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party 10. Mr BUSHILL-MATTHEWS, Philip , Substitute Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats 11. Mr DEVA, Nirj , Substitute Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats 12. Mrs EVANS, Jillian , Substitute Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance 13. Mrs McNALLY, Eryl Margaret , Substitute Group of the Party of European Socialists 14. Mr STURDY, Robert William , Substitute Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats 15. Dr. TANNOCK, Charles , Substitute Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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