California bans animal testing by passing cruelty-free cosmetics act

By

Gabriella Lacombe

Published
Sep 5, 2018

California lawmakers have passed the California Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act, unanimously approving the bill in both the State Assembly and Senate.

Effective January 1, 2020, the new law makes it illegal for cosmetic manufacturers to sell cosmetics in the state if the final product or any of its ingredients were knowingly tested on animals, with some exceptions for regulatory requirements. 

The bill, known as Senate Bill 1249, was written by Senator Cathleen Galgiani and co-sponsored by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and Social Compassion in Legislation.

"Cruelty-free cosmetics are good for business, safe for humans, and don’t harm animals," Senator Galgiani said. 

Many popular cosmetic brands, like Anastasia Beverly Hills, Kat Von D and Glossier, have either made the switch to cruelty-free production or were founded that way, in response to consumer interest in ethically-made makeup. California lawmakers believe that this bill will be a boost to overall cosmetic sales in the state.

According to Humane Society International, approximately 100,000 to 200,000 animals are used to test cosmetics each year. In these tests, animals (typically small mammals like rabbits and guinea pigs) are used to determine health hazards in products. 

“Passing 1249 will alter testing practices across the globe,” said Kristie Sullivan, M.P.H., vice president of research policy for the Physicians Committee. “The use of nonanimal testing methods available today will surge, encouraging the development of even more human-relevant testing methods—methods that are applicable to safety testing beyond the area of cosmetics.”

Once the bill is in action, California will join the European Union and countries like Switzerland, India, Israel, Guatemala, in upholding laws against animal testing on cosmetics.