California first state to pass bill banning animal-tested cosmetics

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California is on its way to becoming the first US state to have a law banning the sale of animal-tested cosmetic products.

Lawmakers voted to pass Senate Bill 1249, or the California Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act, on Sept. 1. It is now awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature, reports the Los Angeles Times.

SB 1249 makes it illegal for cosmetic manufacturers to sell products in California if the final product or a component was knowingly tested on animals after January 1, 2020. Some exceptions exist for regulatory requirements of the Food and Drug Administration or foreign agencies.

An earlier version of the bill was opposed as cosmetics were set to be banned if a group unrelated to the company conducted animal testing. It would have meant that ingredients tested for non-cosmetic purposes, such as finding out if a chemical could be cancerous, could not be used in the product. The bill’s final form narrowed to animal testing performed by the manufacturer or its suppliers.

Those who argued against the measure said that companies would move manufacturing to China since imported cosmetics are tested on animals there by law.

Supporters contended that China’s law was not well enforced anyway and that companies without animal testing were able to market their products successfully in the country. Cosmetics companies that batted for the bill asserted that alternative testing methods were less costly and quicker.

Senator Cathleen Galgiani, who authored the bill, said, “I’m proud of California lawmakers for moving science, industry and ethics forward today. Cruelty-free cosmetics are good for business, safe for humans, and don’t harm animals.”

“This compromise reflects how business interests and consumer protection can go hand in hand, and I commend animal rights activists and the cosmetic industry alike, as we move forward on this important legislation to protect animals and adopt cruelty-free cosmetics,” said co-author and Assembly member Ash Kalra.

Assembly member Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher said, “We don’t have to test on animals to make sure my mascara stays on all day.”  Niña V. Guno /ra

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