Progress Toward Replacing Animals in Toxicity Testing for Cosmetics

Abstract

In the 1980’s, animal rights activists successfully motivated the cosmetic industry to begin researching alternatives to animal tests. The European Union has taken action to stimulate development and validation of alternatives to animal testing through the Sixth and Seventh Amendments to the Cosmetics Directive. In this paper, I will briefly describe the history of the search for alternatives to animal testing for cosmetics. I will then discuss the progress that has been made toward developing and validating replacement alternatives in the eleven toxicological safety testing areas; alternatives are needed in all eleven areas in order for animal tests to be totally replaced.