REACH’s 12th anniversary

Today (1^st June 2019) marks 12 years since the European Union’s chemicals rules – REACH – became law.

REACH is about making sure industrial chemicals are safe for consumers, workers and the environment. That’s important, but REACH has cost many thousands of animals’ lives. It’s time to think again.

Just last week, a new European Parliament was elected. We think now is the time to review REACH and its impact on animals and make some important changes. With our friends around Europe – and with your help – we’re going to do everything we can to make this happen.

Our Cruelty Free International six-point plan for the future of substance-testing in the European Union would not only save the lives and suffering of countless animals but would also mean a more humane and human-relevant approach to safety.

Working with European decision-makers and with your support when REACH was first drawn-up, we were able to insert two very important guiding principles into the legislation: the promotion of alternative methods to animal testing and a requirement that animal testing must only ever be used as a last resort. Bearing these principles in mind and based on our continued monitoring and evaluation of REACH, we have a six-point action plan that the European Commission, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and EU Member States should set in train immediately:

1. Remove all bureaucratic and administrative obstacles holding up the validation of non-animal methods of testing.
2. Make sure that international harmonisation of chemicals regulation does not lead to the continued use of animal testing anywhere in the world where an alternative method has already been recognised as suitable for use in Europe.
3. Do more to support alternative methods by giving positive guidance to industry and Member States on what they need to do to avoid animal testing.
4. Actively support the articles in the REACH law that clearly say that animal testing should be a last resort by ending speculative requests for animal testing for substance evaluation.
5. Dedicate more funding to non-animal testing methods.
6. Stop REACH testing of new and existing chemicals that are used in cosmetics. To do this, we need your help - sign and share the petition today.

 Thank you for all your support for animals. We look forward to keeping you up-to-date on our work and the things you can do to help.