Humane Cosmetics Act Bill Introduced in Congress

The Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 4148), introduced to Congress by Jim Moran (D-VA), aims to make it unlawful for anyone to conduct or commission cosmetic animal testing in the United States and prohibit 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.

This bill is endorsed by The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Humane Society Legislative Fund and Humane Society International, along with members and stakeholders of the personal care products industry, including Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics, Jack Black, Biao Skincare and Aubrey Organics.

Congressman Moran said of the bill, “I am 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.”

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.”

Over the past year, the cosmetics industry underwent major regulatory changes across the globe, driven in part by HSI’s multinational Be Cruelty-Free campaign. 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 announced it will remove the mandatory animal testing for non-essential domestically produced cosmetics in June 2014.

For more information on this from HSUS, visit humanesociety.org/becrueltyfree.

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