California passes Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act

The California State Assembly has passed the Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act (SB-1249), which bans the production and marketing of cosmetics tested on animals.

SB-1249 will be enacted into law once signed by the Governor of California Jerry Brown. It was passed with an 80-0 vote and a procedural concurrence vote in the Senate.

Written by Senator Cathleen Galgiani, the bill was co-sponsored by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and Social Compassion in Legislation.

After 1 January 2020, it will be illegal for cosmetic manufacturers to sell any cosmetic product in California if the end product (or any component of the product) was knowingly tested on animals.

Galgiani said: “I’m proud of California lawmakers for moving science, industry, and ethics forward today. Cruelty-free cosmetics are good for business, safe for humans, and don’t harm animals.”

SB 1249’s principal co-author and assembly member Ash Kalra added: “I’m honoured to have had the opportunity to present SB 1249 on the assembly floor, which will put a ban on animal testing in cosmetics in favour of more ethical approaches to cosmetic testing.

“This compromise reflects how business interests and consumer protection can go hand in hand, and I commend animal rights activists and the cosmetic industry alike, as we move forward on this important legislation to protect animals and adopt cruelty-free cosmetics.”

Once the law is enacted, California will join the EU, Switzerland, India, Israel, Guatemala, and other countries that have banned or restricted cosmetics testing on animals.