Say no to animal testing
While the workings of the European Parliament are not usually a concern for most residents of South Tyneside, I'm convinced readers will be outraged when they hear about a new piece of legislation to be passed in a few weeks, called REACH.
That's because it could see a return to testing cosmetic ingredients on animals.
The REACH (registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals) law aims to test thousands of chemicals for human safety reasons, which is a great idea, but many of the chemicals to be tested are cosmetic ingredients.
The UK stopped testing cosmetic ingredients on animals in 1998, but this new legislation would mean a new wave of animal tests.
Under REACH, millions of animals could be poisoned in labs, many of them to death, in tests that have little scientific value.
We all want chemicals evaluated for safety, but the best way to do so is by using modern non-alternatives like human cell and tissue culture and complex computer models.
These alternatives are usually cheaper, and often more reliable, than using rabbits, guinea pigs and mice.
While time is running out, readers can still makes their voices heard by contacting their local MEP and asking them to keep cosmetics cruelty-free and keep animals out of REACH.
Laura Stewart, aged 16,
Hebburn.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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