Following my post on YSL Touche Eclat, we have been contacted by L'Oreal and provided with the following information about their animal testing policies. I am reproducing it for public reference, as it came to us straight from the horse's mouth. It's not easy to find a statement from L'Oreal on this issue using Google.
As per below, L'Oreal no longer test their finished products on animals, and stopped doing so before the practice was definitively outlawed. However, there's nothing below about the current practice of testing ingredients on animals, which as per this statement provided to OxfordJasmine, still goes on as far as we are aware. What is emphasised is that L'Oreal are working hard to research alternatives. This is good news, as it means they're going to be well prepared for the absolute ban on testing cosmetic ingredients on animals, when it comes into force in 2013.
Good for their business, and good for the consumer as it means that hopefully there will be less reason for governments to contest the enforcement of the 2013 deadline.
All I can say is - good, but hurry it up! :)
L'Oreal's statement:
As per below, L'Oreal no longer test their finished products on animals, and stopped doing so before the practice was definitively outlawed. However, there's nothing below about the current practice of testing ingredients on animals, which as per this statement provided to OxfordJasmine, still goes on as far as we are aware. What is emphasised is that L'Oreal are working hard to research alternatives. This is good news, as it means they're going to be well prepared for the absolute ban on testing cosmetic ingredients on animals, when it comes into force in 2013.
Good for their business, and good for the consumer as it means that hopefully there will be less reason for governments to contest the enforcement of the 2013 deadline.
All I can say is - good, but hurry it up! :)
L'Oreal's statement:
L’Oréal voluntarily stopped using animal testing for the evaluation of its entire range of finished cosmetic products in 1989. It was possible to do this due to the considerable time and effort we have invested for over two decades, including developments of databases on ingredient toxicity profiles and the results of a large-scale programme carried out over several years to develop appropriate in vitro methods such as Episkin. Moreover, we have also co-operated with our competitors in this common objective.
We are totally committed to a future without tests on animals. We comply with all EU and national laws in ensuring the absolute safety of our products. These are positions we share with The Body Shop whose policy of not using any ingredients that have been tested or retested on animals for cosmetics purposes since the end of 1990 remains unchanged.
The industry and many opinion formers believe that this common objective of eradication of animal testing for safety purposes can only be totally achieved through research, development and validation of alternative methods and approaches. L’Oréal has invested more than any other company in this endeavour during the last 25 years. This is a fact that was recognised and endorsed by Anita Roddick, the founder of The Body Shop and campaigner against animal testing for cosmetics. Below is some more detailed information regarding this subject that you may find helpful.
Some of our achievements to date:
- in the early 1980s, L’Oréal developed Episkin - reconstructed human skin models complete with a barrier function. These have since been routinely used to obtain a better understanding of the biological mechanisms of skin and to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of our products. Some of these models can be used to study skin pigmentation or its immune response;
- a specific protocol, using the company’s reconstructed epidermis model Episkin, has been validated by the European Centre for Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) for the purposes of evaluating skin irritancy and corrosion. This method provides a full replacement for the corresponding animal test;
- our researchers have also developed the first epidermal model containing Langerhans cells which play a decisive role in the skin’s allergic response. Having been a pilot for a European Commission programme, similar models are currently being studied as alternative methods to skin allergy tests; and
- the acquisition by L’Oréal of the tissue engineering company, Skin Ethic, is further testimony to our continued commitment to the development of alternative methods to replace animal testing.
L’Oréal is an active member of the European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to animal testing (EPAA) led by the European Commission, and we are committed, in our field of expertise, to progressing and promoting this programme.
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