The Body Shop and Cruelty Free International are celebrating news that the issue of a global ban on animal testing in cosmetics will be discussed at a European Parliament debate next year. MEPs meeting in the Environment Committee voted unanimously to place the call for a global end to the practice on the Parliament’s agenda.

The full European Parliament will vote on a resolution in March next year telling European civil servants and governments to show global leadership and work to end cosmetics animal testing worldwide through the United Nations.

Last week the Environment Committee also requested that the European Commission ensure that the EU’s current ban on the sale of cosmetics tested on animals is being fully enforced.

In 2013 the EU banned the sale of cosmetics which have been tested on animals. However, 80% of the world still allows such testing to take place. The Forever Against Animal Testing campaign, which was launched in June this year by The Body Shop and Cruelty Free International, is now calling for a complete end to animal testing in cosmetics.

With over 3.6 million signatures achieved in support of the global ban, the Forever Against Animal Testing campaign’s ambition is to reach eight million signatures and to take the petition to the UN in 2018, calling for an international convention.

Jessie Macneil-Brown, Head of Global Campaigns, The Body Shop said: “We hope this interest shown by the European Parliament committee helps progress our campaign, by putting the topic of animal testing in cosmetics high on the agenda of the international community”

Michelle Thew, Chief Executive of Cruelty Free International, said: “We are delighted the European Parliament is paying attention to the cruel and unnecessary testing on animals in cosmetics worldwide. The landmark ban in 2013 placed the EU at the forefront of the animal protection movement and the latest announcement shows this issue is still on the EU’s agenda. It sends a message to the UN that public sentiment is overwhelmingly in favour of ending the suffering of animals for the sake of beauty. We urge the General Assembly to pass a resolution and change the lives of countless animals as soon as possible.”