As early as 1998, the Animal Welfare Act in Germany prohibited animal testing for cosmetic products. However, this has not stopped many companies from continuing to test their products on animals. Others have simply relocated their production abroad or had it carried out by third parties. In 2004, however, animal testing for cosmetic products was finally banned throughout the EU.
Since then, not only buyers, but above all sellers have been paying more attention to buying or selling products that have not been tested on animals. Many well-known brands also state that they do not test on animals. However, they sometimes conceal the fact that although they do not carry out animal testing for the cosmetic products, animal testing still takes place for various ingredients of individual cosmetic products. And this even occasionally with natural cosmetics.
From next year, however, this should finally come to an end. As of 2013, any sale of beauty products tested on animals will be banned and no animal testing of cosmetic ingredients may be carried out.
