In a decisive move to protect the integrity of cruelty-free cosmetics, PETA US has announced a major overhaul of its Beauty Without Bunnies certification program, citing a persistent regulatory loophole in the European Union that undermines animal testing bans.

Despite the EU’s Cosmetics Regulation prohibiting animal testing for cosmetic products, the REACH framework (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) continues to mandate animal testing for certain chemical safety assessments. This contradiction has led to the forced testing of cosmetic-only ingredients on animals—threatening the cruelty-free status of brands operating in the region.

Effective immediately, PETA US will only certify brands that sell exclusively in:

– United States

– Canada

– Germany

– India

Applications from companies marketing in other countries are suspended until the EU closes the REACH loophole. Brands found in breach of cruelty-free standards will be placed on PETA’s “Do Test” list.

 “Thousands of animals are being force-fed cosmetics ingredients in painful and deadly tests,” said Dr. Julia Baines, PETA’s Head of Science Policy. “The European Commission must respect the will of over 1.2 million citizens who signed the European Citizens’ Initiative to protect and strengthen the EU’s bans on animal testing”.

PETA urges the personal care industry to embrace advanced, non-animal testing methods, and to prioritize human-relevant science over outdated practices. The organization emphasizes that brands can choose to use existing ingredients with proven safety or opt out of developing products that would require animal testing.

This update sends a clear message: ethical beauty must be backed by uncompromising standards, and regulatory reform is essential to ensure that cruelty-free truly means cruelty-free.