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You’ve probably seen the rabbit symbol on the packaging of some cosmetic products. This logo would indicate that the product was not tested on animals. However, it’s important to remember that, according to the EU regulations, it is illegal to sell or import cosmetic products or ingredients tested on animals. For this reason, the "Not tested on animals" claim, as well as the rabbit icon, are banned under European Regulation 655/2023 as they are considered misleading and deceptive.

Let’s take a closer look

But let’s break down exactly what EU regulations say: in 2004, the European Union banned animal testing for cosmetic products , in 2009 it banned animal testing for cosmetic ingredients , and in 2013 it banned the sale of cosmetic products that contain ingredients tested on animals.

However, it’s important to note that for some innovative ingredients used in cosmetics but common in other sectors like food or pharmaceuticals, animal testing may be permitted.

Most tests are now conducted using sophisticated alternatives to animal testing, which include the use of human cells and tissues (known as in vitro methods), advanced computer-modeling techniques (often referred to as in silico models), and studies with human volunteers.