Press Releases

December 9, 2021 (Washington, D.C.) – Today Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rob Portman (R-OH), and Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) led a bipartisan, bicameral delegation in reintroducing the Humane Cosmetics Act. The legislation would end safety testing of cosmetic products on animals and prohibit the sale of products developed using animal testing in the United States.

“Congress must bring an end to the cruel and outdated practice of animal testing,” said Rep. Beyer, “Advances in the cosmetics industry have already made the process unnecessary by offering safer and more scientifically sound methods. By passing the Humane Cosmetics Act, we are outlawing an obsolete and inhumane practice without damaging American businesses. I thank my colleagues in both parties and chambers for their support of the Humane Cosmetics Act, which I hope will receive swift consideration.”

“The use of animal testing is cruel, very often unnecessary, and needs to become obsolete,” said Senator Booker. “This bipartisan legislation will put an end to animal testing for cosmetics and is an important step in the larger transition to more humane and scientifically reliable testing methods.”

“I’m proud to support this bipartisan legislation as it requires cosmetic companies to verify the safety of their products without the use of animal testing. While hundreds of cosmetic companies already use alternatives to animal testing, this legislation would build on that progress by expediting consideration of reliable testing alternatives. I urge my Senate colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation so that our cosmetics industry can continue to create safe products for consumers without testing on animals,” said Sen. Portman.

“Subjecting animals to painful experiments to test cosmetics is inhumane and entirely unnecessary,” said Rep. Buchanan, who serves as co-chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus. “Scientific advancements have created viable alternatives to these cruel experiments, while still ensuring that cosmetic products are safe for human use. As countries around the world work to prohibit animal testing in cosmetics, it’s time for the United States to get on board.’’

Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Susan Collins (R-ME), and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) are original cosponsors of the Humane Cosmetics Act in the Senate.

"It's time to end the antiquated practice of testing cosmetics products on animals and push companies to adopt more humane and sustainable safety testing practices," said Senator Rosen. “There are a number of affordable and practical alternatives to test the safety of cosmetic products, and reducing and eliminating animal testing is long overdue."

“Cosmetic testing on animals is not only cruel, but also outdated given the variety of effective alternatives to assess product safety that exist today,” said Senator Collins. “By substantially restricting animal testing for cosmetics, our bipartisan bill takes a critical step toward ending this inhumane practice.”

Reps. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Ken Calvert (R-CA), and Paul Tonko (D-NY) are co-leads of the legislation, which has a total of 74 bipartisan original cosponsors in the House.

“I have always been a strong supporter of animal rights throughout my career in public service,” said Rep. Cárdenas. “The cruel and inhumane practice of testing cosmetics on animals is unacceptable. These tests are unnecessary, especially when there are non-animal, cost-efficient research methods that we can adopt. I’m proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in introducing this bipartisan bill to protect animals from abuse.”

The Humane Cosmetics Act is supported by a number of animal protection organizations, and by prominent industry leaders.

“Cosmetics markets around the globe are closing the door on outdated animal tests and the United States must keep pace,” said Sara Amundson, President of Humane Society Legislative Fund. “Non-animal methodologies are faster, less expensive and scientifically superior, and that’s why we were able to secure the endorsement of the cosmetics industry itself. We thank Sens. Cory Booker, Rob Portman, John Hickenlooper, Susan Collins, and Jacky Rosen, and Reps. Don Beyer, Vern Buchanan, Paul Tonko, Ken Calvert, and Tony Cárdenas for their leadership on the Humane Cosmetics Act, which will align the United States with 41 countries and eight states that have already passed laws to end the cruel and unnecessary use of animals in cosmetics testing.” 

“For nearly four decades, cosmetics and personal care products companies have been at the forefront in reducing the use of animals in product safety testing,” said Lezlee Westine, President and CEO of the Personal Care Products Council. “We are proud to support the Humane Cosmetics Act, which takes us closer to eliminating new cosmetics animal testing and promoting recognition and acceptance of alternative approaches in the continued development of safe and innovative beauty and personal care products.”

Cruelty Free International Chief Executive, Michelle Thew said, “Cruelty Free International applauds this renewed effort to bring an end to animal testing for cosmetics across the United States. This will match the progress made at the state level and around the world as consumers, companies, regulators and advocates come together to achieve a common goal of ensuring that animals won’t suffer for the sake of cosmetics anywhere.”

“P&G has invested over $450 million dollars through research and partnerships for alternatives to animal testing and is calling for an end to all animal testing of cosmetic products globally.  We’re proud to support the US Humane Cosmetics Act,” said Espe Troyano, Ph.D, Procter & Gamble’s Vice-President for Global Beauty Skin and Personal Care.

Text of the Humane Cosmetics Act is available here.