People in Europe will no longer be able to buy cosmetics that were tested on animals. The European Union has banned all cosmetics that were developed using animal testing. The EU is also asking other countries to do the same. The total ban follows an earlier one from 2009, when companies could test on animals for serious human health issues. Tonio Borg, the EU's commissioner for health, said the ban, "gives an important signal on the value that Europe attaches to animal welfare". Mr Borg said the EU would help the industry find different ways of developing new cosmetics. He said this would, "set an example of responsible innovation in cosmetics without any compromise on consumer safety".

Animal rights campaigners say the ban is an important victory. They have campaigned for decades against animal testing. A spokesman from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals charity said: "Animal testing in the name of beauty has never been acceptable." He added the work for animal rights activists was not over. "This is a great day for animals but…there are still many animals being used across the world to develop cosmetics," he said. Cosmetics companies were very angry over the new law. A Cosmetics Europe spokesman said European companies would fall behind in developing new products. He added that, "consumers in Europe won't have access to new products".