Animal testing - cosmetics.  Although it was banned in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1998, it does still occur in other areas of the world. The European Union (EU), however, is poised for an almost full ban by 2009 on the sales of cosmetics tested by animals. Currently, the Netherlands and Belgium have banned the sales of such cosmetics, similar to the UK. This isn't to say that all countries support the ban. L'oreal is a massive cosmetics company that is based in France. France is protesting the proposed ban within the EU. Additional opposition comes from the European Federation for Cosmetics Ingredients, which represents seventy companies across the EU.