Cosmetics animal testing is banned in the UK and EU, but global trade in tested products means that the UK market still contains ingredients tested on animals elsewhere in supply chains.
Cosmetics animal testing welfare harm involves tests including skin sensitisation, eye irritation, and repeated dose toxicity in rabbits, guinea pigs, and rats. These tests cause acute and chronic suffering. The EU ban demonstrates that a major cosmetics market can operate without animal testing through investment in alternatives. However, companies that sell in China may still test on animals for regulatory compliance, making supply chain transparency essential for genuinely cruelty-free purchasing. Alternative methods including organotypic skin models, computer modelling, and human volunteer studies are increasingly robust and provide better human safety prediction.