New California legislation could ban sales of cosmetics tested on animals

By

Robin Driver

Published
Feb 16, 2018

The California Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act, SB 1249, was submitted to the California State Legislature by Senator Cathleen Galgiani this Friday. If passed, the bill would prohibit the sale of animal-tested cosmetics in the state.
 

SB 1249 would impose a fine ($5,000 for first-time violators, $1,000 for each subsequent violation) for any manufacturer found to be knowingly importing or selling any cosmetic product that was tested on animals after January 1, 2020, either in whole or in part. Personal hygiene products including deodorant, shampoo and conditioner would also be affected by the new legislation.
 
Senator Galgiani said in a statement, “California has long been a leader in promoting modern alternatives to animal tests,” adding, “Inaction at the federal level compels California to lead the way in ensuring a cruelty-free cosmetics market for its citizens by barring any new ingredients or cosmetics that are tested on animals.”

In 2000, the state was the first in the US to make it illegal to carry out animal testing when an appropriate alternative method is available, and in 2014, the California State Legislature passed the Cruelty Free Cosmetics Resolution which urged Congress to take action on the issue.
 
As pointed out by founder and president of Social Compassion in Legislation, Judie Mancuso, the European Union introduced a similar law in 2013, banning the importation and sale of any new animal-tested cosmetics.
 
The bloc reiterated that there were to be no exceptions to this legislation in 2016, when three companies operating in the UK attempted to market products developed for sale in Japan and China that had been tested on animals outside of the EU.
 
Monica Engebretson of Cruelty Free International commented, “Our success in ending cosmetics testing on animals in the European Union and now in growing number countries has proven that a cruelty free cosmetics market is possible. We applaud Senator Galgiani for introducing this bill to ensure that cosmetics sold in California are safe and humane.”
 
A range of alternatives to animal testing have been developed in recent years, including engineered 3D human skin tissues and sophisticated computer models. These methods are even thought to produce more accurate results and are often cheaper and faster than animal testing.
 
The California Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act is sponsored by Social Compassion in Legislation and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and supported by Cruelty Free International and Lush Cosmetics.