California just became the first state to ban the sale of animal-tested cosmetic after Governor Jerry Brown signed a new law that take a stance against animal testing. The “groundbreaking” legislation “prohibits the sale of cosmetics that have been tested on animals,” a press release from the Human Society stated.
The bill (SB1249), which will go into effect on January 1, 2020, was backed by the Human Society, and HSLF and sponsored by Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and Social Compassion in Legislation, as well as cosmetics company LUSH. According to the Human Society, “every year rabbits, rats, mice and guinea pigs suffer and are killed in tests to assess the safety of cosmetics, a practice that is cruel and unnecessary.”
“We are grateful to Governor Brown for signing this bill,” Crystal Moreland, California state director for the Humane Society of the United States, said in a press release. “I am proud that California is the first state in the nation to take a stand against cruel cosmetic animal testing.”
The bill is the first of its kind in North America and will “ensure that cosmetic products in California stores are free from new animal testing,” a press release stated. Violators will be faced with a $5,000 fine and an additional $1,000 a day there after, the Huffington Post reported.
“We’re hopeful this law will encourage the federal government to pass the Humane Cosmetics Act,” program manager for animal research issues at the Humane Society of the United States Vicki Katrinak told the Huffington Post.
Exceptions to the new law include animal testing required by federal law and animal testing required by law by foreign markets.
“We now call on Congress to quickly pass the Humane Cosmetics Act, legislation to end the production and sale of animal-tested cosmetics in the United States,” a press release stated. “Ending cosmetic animal testing has broad support from the American public and the Humane Cosmetics Act has been endorsed by 250 companies in the cosmetics industry.”
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