The Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act Would Ban The Sale of Animal Tested Cosmetics in California - National Humane Education Society

Paws Up!
February 16, 2018

To The California Senator Senator Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton) for introducing a new bill that would prohibit the sale of new animal-tested cosmetic products in the state of California.

According to a recent news article, a long-awaited bill has been introduced in the California State Legislature. The Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act, also known as SB 1249, would make it unlawful for a manufacturer to knowingly sell any cosmetic or personal care product if the product (or any ingredient therein) was tested on animals. The bill would go into effect January 1, 2020. A first violation could result in a fine of up to $500, and a person found guilty of subsequent violations could be fined at $1,000 per violation.

The animals used in tests for cosmetics and personal care products are usually small mammals, particularly rabbits. A few of the tests the animals are forced to endure include:

•  Draize test: Liquid chemicals are placed directly in the eye of an animal while the head is held in a stock. This test is used to estimate to what extent a substance will damage the eye.
• Skin irritant test: Chemicals are placed on raw or shaved skin without the use of anesthetic to determine how dermal application affects the body.
• Oral toxicity test: Animals are force-fed chemicals to the point of death in order to ascertain lethal doses.
• LD50 test : LD50 stands for Lethal Dose 50 percent. The purpose of this test is to estimate a dosage amount that would result in death for half of the animals in a test group.

Take action. California residents, please contact your legislators and urge them to support The Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act. Feel free to use NHES’ sample action letter below when composing your message.

Re: The Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act

Dear Sen./Rep. {Last Name},

My name is {Your Name} and I am writing to urge you to support The Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act (SB 1249), recently introduced to the California State Legislature. If passed, this bill would outlaw the sale of  cosmetics and personal care products that were developed with the use of recent animal testing. The tests are extremely painful and stressful for animals who suffer terribly when caustic chemicals are put onto their skin, in their eyes, and forced into their digestive system. Furthermore, these cruel tests are unnecessary to safeguard consumer health. For one, thousands of ingredients and whole products have already shown to be safe for human use.  In the creation of new products, some companies are using human tissues grown in a lab. There is no reason to continue the pointless and cruel use of animals in the testing of personal care and cosmetic products. I hope you will ardently support The Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act this legislative session.

Sincerely,

{Your Name}