This week California took a big step towards becoming the first state in the US to become a cruelty-free cosmetics zone, as the California Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act passed the Senate. Alongside other groups, we backed Senator Cathleen Galgiani’s bill that will phase-out the sale of animal-tested cosmetics in the state by January 2020. The bill will now be considered in the California Assembly.

Monica Engebretson, North America Campaign Manager for Cruelty Free International, said: “As the 5^th largest economy in the world, and with a population greater than Canada, California’s steps toward ending the sale of animal-tested cosmetics make it a leading light in the cosmetics industry.”

 

California has a long history of leading on the issue of animal-tested cosmetics in the USA, with then Assembly Member Jack O’Connell taking the first (sadly unsuccessful) steps in 1989 and 1990. In 2000, now a Senator, he successfully brought about a ban on manufacturers and testing facilities being allowed to test on animals when reliable non-animal alternatives are available. Then, in 2014, Senator Marty Block with our support introduced the Cruelty Free Cosmetics Resolution, urging Congress to phase out the sale of animal-tested cosmetics. Four years later, Senator Cathleen Galgiani’s California Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act, won its vote in the Senate.

 

California is now the 3^rd state, alongside New York and Hawaii, to introduce legislation aimed at ending the sale of animal-tested cosmetics.