New York Governor Signs Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act into Law

The New York Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act was finally passed, banning the sale of cosmetics newly tested on animals starting January 1, 2023.

Source: Lush Cosmetics North America/YouTube

The New York Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act was signed by Governor Kathy Hochul, which means New York is officially the 10th state to prohibit the sale of cosmetics tested on animals. New York joins California, Nevada, Illinois, Hawaii, Maryland, Maine, New Jersey, Virginia, and Louisiana.

The Act means it will be unlawful to sell cosmetics that involve new animal testing to establish the safety of a product. Manufacturers will now be required to use widely-available non-animal testing methods.

Monica Engebretson, Head of Public Affairs North America for Cruelty Free International said, “We are thrilled that the New York Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act has been signed into law. U.S. history has shown that state activity leads to changes at the federal level. Because of New York’s association with the fashion and beauty industries, passing the New York Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act could be the tipping point that leads to the passage of a federal Humane Cosmetics Act.”

New York State Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan), Chair of the Committee on Social Services, said, “More consumers than ever are demanding cruelty-free cosmetics, and I am proud that my legislation banning the sale of cosmetics tested on animals has been signed into law. For decades, animals have suffered painful, cruel, and unnecessary experiments in the development of cosmetics, despite the existence of alternative methods that do not involve animal testing. With this new law, animals will no longer be harmed in the service of humans’ pursuit of beauty. I am proud to have worked with Cruelty Free International in passing this legislation into law and look forward to seeing more states follow in New York’s footsteps.”

Animals in laboratories experience horrific suffering and death. On top of that, the animals come from breeding facilities where they often aren’t given proper veterinary care, food, or water, and live in terrible and cramped conditions. The passage of this bill will be a huge step forward for non-human animals and society as a whole.

Numerous companies are standing up against animal testing and recently the USDA decided to eliminate some mammalian testing by 2025. The majority of animal testing is used in medicine and for other human products and treatments. According to PETA, the National Institutes of Health wastes $12 billion annually on animal testing that does not lead anywhere. These experiments on animals fail 90 percent of the time! The research used on animals rarely correlates when it is tested on humans, making it a waste of money and unnecessary. Monkeys, mice, rats, and dogs are all used in animal experiments nationwide. It’s time countries ban animal experimentation altogether, as it also hurts humans.

Read more about animal testing in One Green Planet, including why it makes no sense. Celebrities like James Cromwell and Paul McCartney have spoken out against animal testing.

Related Content:

• Petition: Tell FDA to Phase Out Animal Testing
• Australia Could Lead the World in Animal Testing Alternatives
• A New Solution That Could End Animal Testing
• Harvard Monkey Study Reignites Debate on Animal Testing
• Pakistan Bans Live Animal Testing and Surgeries in Veterinary Schools and Industrial Complexes

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