With the sales ban the European Union assumed a leading position worldwide in demonstrating that safe and innovative cosmetics are possible without animal testing, the Commissioner said. He was confident that other states will follow this lead. To achieve this he wants to ensure that both this European approach and the use of alternative methods will be an integral part of the EU's trade agenda and international cooperation.

He intends to continue the work of the uniform implementation of the sales ban within Europe and to observe its effects, as well as promoting research, development and validation of new alternative methods for safety testing.

Source:
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/mimica/news/2014/03/20140311_en.htm