Council Directive of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products (76/768/EEC) (repealed)

[F1 Article 4a U.K.

1. Without prejudice to the general obligations deriving from Article 2, Member States shall prohibit:

(a) the marketing of cosmetic products where the final formulation, in order to meet the requirements of this Directive, has been the subject of animal testing using a method other than an alternative method after such alternative method has been validated and adopted at Community level with due regard to the development of validation within the OECD;

(b) the marketing of cosmetic products containing ingredients or combinations of ingredients which, in order to meet the requirements of this Directive, have been the subject of animal testing using a method other than an alternative method after such alternative method has been validated and adopted at Community level with due regard to the development of validation within the OECD;

(c) the performance on their territory of animal testing of finished cosmetic products in order to meet the requirements of this Directive;

(d) the performance on their territory of animal testing of ingredients or combinations of ingredients in order to meet the requirements of this Directive, no later than the date on which such tests are required to be replaced by one or more validated alternative methods listed in Annex V to Council Directive 67/548/EEC of 27 June 1967 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances (1) or in Annex IX to this Directive.

No later than 11 September 2004 the Commission shall, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 10(2) and after consultation of the Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products intended for consumers (SCCNFP) establish the contents of Annex IX.

2. The Commission, after consultation of the SCCNFP and of the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) and with due regard to the development of validation within the OECD, shall establish timetables for the implementation of the provisions under paragraph 1(a), (b) and (d), including deadlines for the phasing-out of the various tests. The timetables shall be made available to the public not later than 11 September 2004 and be sent to the European Parliament and the Council. The period for implementation shall be limited to a maximum of six years after the entry into force of Directive 2003/15/EC in relation to paragraph 1(a), (b) and (d).

(2.1) In relation to the tests concerning repeated-dose toxicity, reproductive toxicity and toxicokinetics, for which there are no alternatives yet under consideration, the period for implementation of paragraph 1(a) and (b) shall be limited to a maximum of 10 years after the entry into force of Directive 2003/15/EC.

(2.2) The Commission shall study possible technical difficulties in complying with the ban in relation to tests, in particular those concerning repeated-dose toxicity, reproductive toxicity and toxicokinetics, for which there are no alternatives yet under consideration. Information about the provisional and final results of these studies should form part of the yearly reports presented pursuant to Article 9.

On the basis of these annual reports, the timetables established in accordance with paragraph 2 may be adapted within a maximum time limit of six years as referred to in paragraph 2 or 10 years as referred to in paragraph 2.1 and after consultation of the entities referred to in paragraph 2.

(2.3) The Commission shall study progress and compliance with the deadlines as well as possible technical difficulties in complying with the ban. Information about the provisional and final results of the Commission studies should form part of the yearly reports presented pursuant to Article 9. If these studies conclude, at the latest two years prior to the end of the maximum period referred to in paragraph 2.1, that for technical reasons one or more tests referred to in paragraph 2.1 will not be developed and validated before the expiry of the period referred to in paragraph 2.1 it shall inform the European Parliament and the Council and shall put forward a legislative proposal in accordance with Article 251 of the Treaty.

(2.4) In exceptional circumstances where serious concerns arise as regards the safety of an existing cosmetic ingredient a Member State may request the Commission to grant a derogation from paragraph 1. The request shall contain an evaluation of the situation and indicate the measures necessary. On this basis, the Commission may, after consultation of the SCCNFP and by means of a reasoned decision, authorise the derogation in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 10(2). This authorisation shall lay down the conditions associated with this derogation in terms of specific objectives, duration and reporting of the results.

A derogation shall only be granted if:

(a) the ingredient is in wide use and cannot be replaced by another ingredient able to perform a similar function;

(b) the specific human health problem is substantiated and the need to conduct animal tests is justified and is supported by a detailed research Protocol proposed as the basis for the evaluation.

The decision on the authorisation, the conditions associated with it and the final result achieved shall be part of the annual report to be presented by the Commission in accordance with Article 9.

3. For the purposes of this Article:

(a) ‘ finished cosmetic product ’ means the cosmetic product in its final formulation, as placed on the market and made available to the final consumer, or its prototype.

(b) ‘ prototype ’ means a first model or design that has not been produced in batches, and from which the finished cosmetic product is copied or finally developed.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Inserted by Directive 2003/15/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 February 2003 amending Council Directive 76/768/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products (Text with EEA relevance).

(1)

[F1 OJ 196, 16.8.1967, p. 1 . Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 2001/59/EC ( OJ L 225, 21.8.2001, p. 1 ).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Inserted by Directive 2003/15/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 February 2003 amending Council Directive 76/768/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products (Text with EEA relevance).