McSally, Portman introduce bill to outlaw animal testing for cosmetics

U.S. Sens. Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Rob Portman (R-OH) on Monday unveiled a bipartisan bill to prohibit the use of animal testing for cosmetics and the sale of cosmetics tested on animals.

“It’s long past time to end cosmetics animal testing in the U.S.,” Sen. McSally said. “Not only is this practice inhumane, but it is also ineffective and costly.”

Sen. McSally on Nov. 18 sponsored the Humane Cosmetics Act, S. 2886, with cosponsors Sens. Portman and Cory Booker (D-NJ), which would phase out the sale of cosmetic products developed using animal testing and make it unlawful to conduct cosmetic animal testing in the United States with limited exceptions, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.

“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,” said Sen. Portman.

If enacted, S. 2886 would make it unlawful to knowingly conduct or contract for cosmetic animal testing that occurs in the U.S., and would make it illegal to sell or knowingly transport any cosmetic products in the U.S. that were developed using cosmetic animal testing ordered by any person in the product’s supply chain, according to the bill’s text.

Exceptions provided under the bill would include special safety concerns as approved by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, foreign requirements, drugs used in cosmetics products, and dual-use ingredients.

“While nearly 600 cosmetic companies already use alternatives to animal testing, this legislation would build on that progress by expediting the consideration of other reliable testing alternatives,” Sen. Portman said.

Sen. McSally also noted that numerous American companies “now successfully use alternative methods of testing that more accurately predict the effect of cosmetics on humans,” and she said that S. 2886 “would protect innocent animals from needless abuse, while modernizing our cosmetics industry.”

The legislation, which is endorsed by the Humane Society of The United States, Cruelty Free International, and the Personal Care Products Council, has been referred to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for consideration.