New Bill Could End Cosmetic Animal Testing in USA

Like us on Facebook:

The current article you are reading does not reflect the views of the current editors and contributors of the new Ecorazzi

Congressman Jim Moran, D-VA, has introduced bill “H.R. 4148” to congress, which will prohibit animal testing for cosmetics manufactured and sold in the United States. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the Humane Legislative Fund have been tirelessly campaigning through their “Be Cruelty-Free U.S.A.” initiative for new legislation that would put a halt to animal testing in the U.S.

If approved, the Humane Cosmetics Act bill will make it “unlawful for anyone to conduct or commission cosmetic animal testing in the U.S.” Also, it will “[p]rohibit selling, offering for sale or transporting any cosmetics in interstate commerce if the final product or any component was developed or manufactured using animal testing.”

Congressman Moran says, that he is “delighted to be working with The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund on this bill, which will bring the United States into the 21st century and save countless animals from unnecessary cosmetics testing.” LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics, Jack Black, Biao skincare and Aubrey Organics have all endorsed the new bill, along with other members and stakeholders of the personal care products industry.

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS, said: “Americans deserve to have access to safe and humane products, and there is no compelling need for animal testing for cosmetics. We thank Congressman Moran for his leadership on this legislation, which will align the U.S. with the global trend moving away from animal testing of cosmetics. We have powerful and reliable alternatives available and it’s time to embrace those new technologies and stop harming animals for unnecessary reasons.”

Humane Society International’s multinational “Be Cruelty-Free“ campaign has been instrumental in encouraging changes in legislation against animal testing around the world. The HSI says, that just “over the past year, the cosmetics industry underwent major regulatory changes across the globe, driven in part by Israel and the 28 states of the European Union banned the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics in 2013. India has prohibited domestic animal testing for cosmetic products and ingredients, and is working on a follow-up import and sales ban. The State of São Paulo, Brazil, recently signed a bill prohibiting cosmetics testing on animals, and the Brazilian federal regulatory body for animal experiments will be voting on HSI’s animal testing ban proposal later this month.”

“In China, where animal testing has historically been required, the Chinese Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), announced it will remove the mandatory animal testing for non-essential domestically produced cosmetics in June 2014,” said HSI. Cosmetics products are currently classified into ordinary, or non-essential cosmetics, such as hair care and skin care products, fragrances, make-up, and nail and toe cosmetics, among others. Although, the new regulations reduce the amount of testing required in China, cosmetics for “specific use” still require testing. These products include hair growing restoration, hair dyeing colorants, hair perming, depilatories, body slimming and breast enhancement, deodorants, spot removing, and sun screen protection.

Everyday, painful tests are performed on bunny rabbits, mice, rats, and guinea pigs to ensure the safety of cosmetics for humans. The majority of these innocent creatures die a slow and agonizing death, while enduring barbaric treatment. “Humane and safe cosmetics can be made using the thousands of existing ingredients, and several non-animal safety tests are already available for new ingredients. These non-animal alternatives can be cheaper, faster, and more relevant to humans, and therefore more reliable at predicting safety,” said The HSUS.

Help make animal testing of cosmetics in the United States a thing of the past, by signing this petition.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock