The European Parliament voted today to ban the sale of cosmetic products tested on animals in the EU, sparking fears of a further trade war with the US.
The ban will however not take effect for five years after it is adopted by the 15 EU members, which could take two years.
"This legislation will not force anybody to stop animal testing," said German socialist MEP Ms Dagmar Roth-Behrendt.
"It just says they (cosmetic manufacturers) won't be able to sell their products in the EU anymore if the products, or any of their components, were tested on animals anywhere on earth."
Mr Louis Santucci, vice-president of the US cosmetic, toiletry and fragrance association, said on the sidelines: "There is concern of a new trade dispute with the EU after beef, FSCs (foreign sales companies) or bananas."
The testing of cosmetics on animals is already banned in Britain, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, but products tested in other countries are freely sold.
AFP