The UK government has confirmed it will keep the current ban on the sale of cosmetics tested on animals after Brexit. We welcome this news and are calling on the government to go even further by using Brexit as an opportunity to reduce the number of animals used in UK laboratories.

Answering a Parliamentary Question from former Cruelty Free International MP of the Month Dr Lisa Cameron, Chair of the All Parliamentary Dog Welfare Group, the government said it plans to keep restrictions on the marketing of imported cosmetics that rely on animal testing safety data.

With the UK set to leave the EU in March 2019 we want to see the government do more to reduce animal suffering in UK laboratories and push towards a ban on animal testing for household cleaning products.

Kerry Postlewhite, Director of Public Affairs, says: “Brexit could be a real opportunity for the UK to demonstrate to the world that it really is the global champion of animals. Instead of simply preserving the status quo, the government can use this as a springboard to increase efforts to stop the cruel use of animals in experiments. This is a unique chance for the UK to step up and become world leaders in the development of cutting-edge alternatives to end this outdated practice for good. Let’s not waste it.”

The UK remains Europe’s biggest user of animals in research despite growing public demand for more to be done to find alternatives to animal testing. According to a recent poll, 74% of the UK public backs the call for the development of alternatives.