The US Humane Cosmetics Act Gets New Support from Politicians & #BeCrueltyFree!

The US Humane Cosmetics Act Gets New Support from Politicians & #BeCrueltyFree!


In March of 2014,bill H.R. 4148, the Humane Cosmetics Act was proposed in the United States. This act was proposed towards the end of the government year and was unable to gain the leverage and support it needed to move forward in 2014. Now, over a year later, the Humane Cosmetics Act has received a reboot with new political support and organization support. Hopefully, this is what is needed to move the Humane Cosmetics Act foward and make changes to the animal testing laws in the United States!

Here’s what you need to know about the Humane Cosmetics Act:

  • The Humane Cosmetics Act was originally introduced by U.S. Representative Jim Moran, D-West Virginia. This legislation is now sponsored by U.S. Reps. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., Don Beyer, D-Va., Joe Heck, R-Nev., and Tony Cárdenas, D-Calif.
  • If passed, the Humane Cosmetics Act, would end animal testing for cosmetics after a one-year phase.
  • If passed, the Humane Cosmetics Act, would phase out the sale of cosmetics that have been tested on animals in three years.
  • If passed, the Humane Cosmetics Act, would make it illegal for anyone to conduct or commission cosmetic animal testing in the U.S.
  • If passed, the Humane Cosmetics Act, would 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.
  • The Humane Cosmetics Act, like other Acts and bans around the world, would only regulate companies in the United States and would not impact them in international markets. Brands sold in the US could still sell in markets, such as China, where post-market animal testing is required by law.

Seeing the Humane Cosmetics Act be revived is amazing!! I personally was shocked at how long it was stagnant and am thrilled to see politicians in both political parties and groups like Humane Society International getting involved. Animal testing is unnecessary and outdated. Changes need to happen in the US to work towards a ban on animal testing.

Read more about The US Humane Cosmetics Act Gets New Support from Politicians & #BeCrueltyFree!

What can you do to help?

Contacting your State Representatives is the more important thing that you can do to help the Safe Cosmetics Act move forward! If your State Representatives know that this Act is important to those in their voting districts, they are much more likely to get involved. Reach out and let them know that you want them to support the Safe Cosmetics Act and make a move towards ending animal testing in the US!

In the press release from Humane Society International below, you can find a link to an online form that will make notifying your State Representatives as easy as possible.

#BeCrueltyFree USA Campaign Welcomes Humane Cosmetics Act to End Cosmetics Animal Testing in United States

Congress urged to ban cruel animal testing of cosmetics in the U.S.A.

LONDON (23 June 2015) – Animal testing of cosmetic products and ingredients, and the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics, would be phased out under proposed legislation introduced in the United States Congress. Passage of the Humane Cosmetics Act would bring the U.S. in line with more than 30 other countries – home to more than 1.7 billion consumers – that have already implemented similar bans.

The #BeCrueltyFree USA campaign led by The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund, welcomes the introduction of this bipartisan bill as a key opportunity to rid the United States of cosmetics cruelty. This legislation is sponsored by U.S. Reps. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., Don Beyer, D-Va., Joe Heck, R-Nev., and Tony Cárdenas, D-Calif.     

#BeCrueltyFree is the largest campaign in the world to end cosmetics animal testing, led globally by Humane Society International. Claire Mansfield, HSI’s #BeCrueltyFree campaigns director, said from London, “Testing cosmetic chemicals for lipstick and shampoo on live animals isn’t just morally indefensible; it also makes poor scientific sense because these animal tests have never been proven reliable to assure human safety. Hundreds of brands produce cosmetics without harming a single animal, and more than 30 countries globally have already banned such testing, so it’s time for the United States to catch up and join the #BeCrueltyFree movement.”

U.S. law doesn’t require animal testing for cosmetics, but it doesn’t prohibit it either, so in laboratories around the country, thousands of animals are still suffering and dying to test beauty products and ingredients. Mice, rabbits, rats and guinea pigs have substances forced down their throat, dripped into their eyes, or smeared onto their skin, usually without any pain relief.  

The bill is supported by #BeCrueltyFree celebrities including Kesha, Jenna Dewan-Tatum and Ricky Gervais, alongside more than 140 cosmetics companies such as Lush, Juice Beauty and Jack Black.

Jenna Dewan Tatum, who last year starred in a Hollywood billboard for the #BeCrueltyFree USA campaign (click here for video), said of animal testing: “I truly hope that in this day and age, the United States will follow other amazing countries that have already banned cosmetic testing. We, as a global leader, have not done that yet. That is absolutely disgusting to me.” 

Ricky Gervais said: “I’m delighted to help The Humane Society of the United States’ #BeCrueltyFree USA campaign to end the cruel and outdated practice of testing cosmetics on living animals. Rabbits and rodents forced to endure toxic cosmetics testing in U.S. laboratories have no-one to speak up for them but us. So I urge all Americans to be their voice, support the Humane Cosmetics Act and make the U.S. the next cruelty-free cosmetics zone.”

Facts

  • Seventy-three percent of American voters are in favor of federal legislation to end animal testing for cosmetics. (2014 poll conducted by Lake Research and commissioned by the #BeCrueltyFree campaign’s The HSUS and HSLF)
  • More than 600 cruelty-free companies are accredited by the Leaping Bunny standard or recognized by top cruelty-free sites Logical Harmony and My Beauty Bunny. Cruelty-free companies avoid all animal testing by using the thousands of existing, safe cosmetic ingredients combined with available non-animal tests. For our #BeCrueltyFree shopping guide, click here.
  • Check out our #BeCrueltyFree infographic here

Click here to contact your representatives and urge them to support the Humane Cosmetics Act.

7 Comments

  1. What about China though? I’ve nothing in particular about the country, in fact, I can speak some Chinese, but I am very tired of the government! As long they demand that products be tested won’t they still need to be tested in China?

  2. This is such hopeful news! I called and emailed my Representative today and have asked all of my friends and family members to do the same. The more people that our Congress members hear from, the more likely this bill is to pass!

  3. So happy this is happening! I have a quick question. I’m not American but I frequently go to the U.S./order from the U.S. And I’m wondering if I can help in any way by emailing certain representatives to make them aware of increased global business if this is passed. If so who would you reccomend me contacting? If not, I’ll spread the word for other cruelty free Americans to get involved!

    1. I think spreading the word is always a good option! It also can’t hurt to reach out to some Representatives as your consumer dollars impact those in their districts, but am not sure how effective this is overall since you don’t hold voting power.

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