Alternative Methods
The European cosmetics industry is committed to the replacement of animal testing on its products and ingredients. We are proud of the important role our industry has played in the development of alternative approaches to animal testing in Europe and internationally. We began phasing out animal testing on finished products more than 10 years ahead of the legal deadline (in place since 2004) and have led or contributed significantly to the development of all the replacement methods that are available to date.
We believe that replacing animal testing is in the interest of all concerned. Therefore we have a long-standing and ongoing commitment to replacing animal testing. We are playing a leading role in the development and promotion of alternative testing methods and new approaches to ensuring the safety of our products and ingredients.
For more than twenty years, the European cosmetics industry has assigned its best scientists, laboratories and significant funding towards the development of replacements to animal testing.
What is an alternative method?
Alternative methods are defined as one of the “Three Rs”: Replacement of an animal test by a non-animal test; Refinement of an animal test to reduce or eliminate stress or suffering; or Reduction in the number of animals needed in a test.
Colipa’s current research efforts are focused on the development of replacement methods.
In the EU, Alternative testing methods are are subject to Authorities’ approval and scientifically validated by the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM).
A long-term commitment and partnership
Globally, the cosmetics industry is the pioneer in research into developing alternative methods to animal testing. Our industry has been looking for alternatives since the early 1980s. In 1992 Colipa created the Steering Committee on Alternatives to Animal Testing (SCAAT) to coordinate the efforts of the cosmetics industry in the development, validation and acceptance of alternative methods for evaluating the safety of products and ingredients. The work of SCAAT has always been based on collaboration – not only between member companies but also with other groups who have a legitimate interest in the outcome of the research, such as academia.
In November 2005, under the incentive of the European Commission the cosmetics industry along with many individual companies and industry associations from several industry sectors joined forces within the European Commission to create the European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA). This unique partnership pools the knowledge and resources required to develop new alternative approaches and helps to speed up the acceptance of such methods and facilitate the exchange of best practices between industries.
Through Colipa the cosmetics industry is also committed to promoting alternative approaches to animal testing and acts as a driving force and a global ambassador in this field.
Results making a difference
As a result of its efforts the cosmetics industry began phasing out all animal testing for finished products back in the 1980s and has contributed significantly to the development of replacement methods for testing ingredients in four particular areas: skin corrosion, phototoxicity, percutaneous absorption and skin irritation. To date, several methods are available that have been validated by ECVAM, and the in vitro method for dermal absorption/ percutaneous penetration, having been globally accepted by the OECD.
We are proud of the scientific achievements and the validation (i.e. independent scientific recognition) of these tests, thereby contributing to a reduction in the number of animal tests carried out. The industry as a whole is continuing to work towards the goal of replacing animal testing entirely.
Today, new data from animal testing on ingredients is only used as a last resort in cases where the legislation requires and permits it and where there is no other means of ensuring consumer safety.