Published: 02 June 2026

New Europe-wide campaign highlights the suffering of more than 100,000 mice per year 

The European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE) is launching the new campaign “Stop Botox Animal Testing!” today. Despite the availability of animal-free methods for years, current estimates indicate that more than 100,000 mice are still being used and painfully killed each year for so-called quality control tests of botox products in the EU and the United Kingdom.

Botulinum toxin – better known as botox – is one of the most potent known neurotoxins. The substance is indicated for certain medical applications such as cervical dystonia and blepharospasm, but is primarily used for reducing facial wrinkles. Due to its high level of toxicity, every production batch is tested; further tests are carried out additionally during the manufacturing process.

In the animal tests still commonly used for this purpose, mice are injected with varying doses of the neurotoxin. The animals gradually develop paralysis and severe respiratory distress; many die of suffocation. Under EU law, these tests are classified as animal experiments in the highest severity category, ‘severe’.

Recent investigations by Utrecht University, The Netherlands, show that botox animal testing remains widespread across Europe. According to the findings, Ireland and the United Kingdom, and until recently also Germany, are key locations for these tests.

Yet reliable animal-free testing methods have been available for more than a decade. Several companies already use these modern cell-based methods at least at some stages of botox production, which not only avoid animal suffering but also provide scientifically more meaningful results. Nevertheless, the mouse test remains the standard in the European Pharmacopoeia.

According to the ECEAE, this reveals a serious failure in the regulatory recognition and implementation of animal-free methods. The organizations are particularly critical of the fact that botox, despite its predominantly aesthetic use, is legally classified as a medicinal product and therefore does not fall under the European ban on animal testing for cosmetics.

Dr. Dilyana Filopova, Deputy Chair of the ECEAE said: “It is appalling that animal tests for botox products for aesthetic purposes are still being licensed. They should be prohibited under EU law because they should not pass the harm-benefit assessment. Their authorisation highlights a fundamental flaw in regulation whereby animal suffering is, in reality, given little consideration.”

The organization also criticizes the lack of transparency surrounding botox animal testing. Information about the number of animals used and the specific purposes of the tests is not publicly accessible and is difficult to research. Consumers are generally also unaware that the products were tested in extremely cruel animal experiments.

Therefore, in the online petition launched today ECEAE is calling for the removal of the mouse test from the European Pharmacopoeia, as well as for transparency regarding the number of animals used and the purpose of the tests. Manufacturers should also be required to inform consumers about animal tests carried out for the products.

Already in 2023, the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments submitted around 164,000 signatures collected across Europe to the European Medicines Agency in Amsterdam. With the new campaign, the organization is once again appealing to EU institutions to finally abolish the botox mouse test finally and for good.

Reference

Watkins J. et al.: Botulinum neurotoxin: Tracking the transition from lethal dose to in vitro models. NAM Journal 2025; 100040