Buchanan Seeks to End Cosmetic Testing on Animals

WASHINGTON – On the heels of a legislative victory that toughened federal laws on animal abuse, Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-Longboat Key) is now trying to end safety testing of cosmetic products on animals and prohibit the sale of products developed using animal testing.

Buchanan and Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), recently introduced the Humane Cosmetics Act.

"Subjecting animals to painful experiments to test cosmetics is inhumane and entirely unnecessary," said 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."

The Humane Cosmetics Act has been endorsed by the Humane Society and the Personal Care Products Council. The bill would prohibit selling or transporting any cosmetics in interstate commerce if any component of the final product was developed or manufactured using animal testing. Senators Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

"Some thirty years in the making, the partnership between the Humane Society Legislative Fund and Personal Care Products Council to support the Humane Cosmetics Act is a remarkable milestone in the fight to end new animal testing for cosmetics," said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "We applaud the strong bipartisanship leadership of the bill by Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Tony Cardenas (D-CA) and Paul Tonko (D-NY). Passage of the Act will place the United States at the center of a worldwide shift from animal testing to cruelty-free methodologies for assuring the safety of cosmetics. There isn’t a measure better suited to bridge the partisan divide in Washington, D.C., these days."

At least 37 other nations have already passed laws restricting such experiments.

"For nearly four decades, beauty companies have been at the forefront in reducing the use of animals in product safety testing. We are proud to support the Humane Cosmetics Act that takes us closer to eliminating new cosmetics animal testing and promoting recognition and acceptance of alternative approaches," said Lezlee Westine, president and CEO of the Personal Care Products Council.