California Calls on Congress to Ban Cosmetics Animal Testing

The U.S. is one step closer to banning all cosmetics testing on animals! The California Legislature has passed Senate Joint Resolution 22, titled the “Cruelty Free Cosmetics Resolution,” which calls on the U.S. Congress to adopt legislation to effectively ban cosmetics animal testing, as well as ask Congress to mandate non-animal alternative testing whenever possible.

With cosmetics animal testing already banned in the European Union, Norway, Israel, India, and within the city of Sao Paolo, Brazil, it’s about time the U.S. follows these shining examples.

California has been a leader in the non-animal testing front, and the state has implemented a “mandated alternative law,” which prohibited companies from utilizing animal testing when a validated non-animal test was available, since 2000. Since then, New Jersey and New York have followed in the steps of California and have passed similar laws in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

The resolution, backed by Sen. Marty Block (San Diego-39) and supported by Cruelty Free International, the ASPCA, and the Animal Legal Defense Fund, among others, is a formal way for California to let Congress know, Hey, maybe it’s time to stop the cruelty. 

“Unnecessary cruelty is unforgiveable,” said Sen. Marty Block (San Diego-39). “Animal testing by the cosmetics industry is usually unnecessary and often unreliable. Where other means of ensuring product safety are available, they should be used.”

From a state that’s one of our nation’s largest cosmetics market, we should really listen to them, Congress.

Image source: Ewen Roberts/Flickr