The statement, issued in cooperation with the European Commission, limits the scope of the animal test bans to tests carried out for consumer safety on ingredients solely used in cosmetics. It says they do not apply to tests carried out for worker safety or for environmental endpoints, or to tests for consumer safety where the ingredient may have dual use.

As is said in the press release, this would mean that, in practice, the animal tests bans would have virtually no application, clearly not what the EU legislator intended.

The coalition argues that the tests for worker safety are identical to those for consumer safety (which de facto is right since cosmetic use is a repeated dose exposition (ie. inhalative as well as dermal) comparable those during the cosmetic production process of workers. They fear that it will be too easy for companies to label a test as being for worker safety and thereby sidestep the bans.

The ECEAE will be seeking to bring the matter before the Court of Justice at the earliest opportunity.

Read more:
http://www.ECEAE.org
ECHA statement:
http://www.echa.europa.eu/