Borg appointment makes EU animal test ban likely

The appointment today of Tonio Borg as European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy marks a significant change in direction regarding the implementation of the 2013 marketing ban on cosmetics containing ingredients tested on animals, according to Humane Society International.

Borg has indicated his desire to see the 2013 marketing ban implemented in full, in contrast to his predecessor John Dalli who was considering introducing measures to allow newly animal tested ingredients to be sold in the EU.

Humane Society International senior EU policy advisor Emily McIvor welcomed Borg’s appointment.

“This once again puts the EU at the forefront of global efforts to rid the world of cosmetics animal testing,” she said. “We will now be calling on cosmetics companies to embrace the ban and show what can be done to hasten the development of non-animal test methods.”