The Directive provides for a ban on animal testing of finished products (applicable from 11 September 2004), and a complete ban on animal testing of cosmetic ingredients as soon as alternative methods are validated and adopted by EU legislation. The final deadline of 11 March 2009 applies even if alternative tests are not available then.
A marketing ban on animal-tested products also applies, from 11 September 2004 or as soon as alternative methods are validated and adopted and again by 11 March 2009 at the latest, with the exception of three study areas where development of alternatives will unavoidably take longer – alternative tests for repeated dose toxicity, reproductive toxicity and toxicokinetics need not be introduced until 11 March 2013 (and perhaps later if technical problems arise).

Please read our regulatory context section for more information.