New York becomes the tenth state in the USA to ban cosmetics tested on animals

December  29th, 2022

It is a matter of public knowledge that about 100 million animals, including dogs, cats, monkeys, mice, and rats, are burned, poisoned, abused, and hurt every year in laboratories in the United States alone. They are deliberately infected with diseases, poisoned with dangerous substances, and confined in sterile cages until they die. Therefore, many people consider it a no brainer that animal research must be halted in order to end the further exploitation of animals because doing so exposes them to excruciating pain, suffering, and even death. Finally, there are effective alternatives, so there is no need to test items on animals. Well, it appears the big apple has some good news on this front.

Following the passage of the New York Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act by Governor Kathy Hochul, New York is now the tenth state to forbid the sale of cosmetics derived from animal testing.

Businesses who voiced their support for the ban

The Federal Humane Cosmetics Act, whose most recent version was submitted in the House in December 2021, would outlaw the sale and production of cosmetics made using animal testing across the US. More than 375 businesses, including Walgreens, The Body Shop, Unilever, H&M, and Paula's Choice, have endorsed the initiative for a statewide ban. "Now it is up to Congress to pass the Humane Cosmetics Act to bring about a consistent standard for ending cosmetics animal testing across the country," said Brian Shapiro, New York state director for the Humane Society of the United States.

Image Source: The Humane Society of the US

The New York Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act (A.5653B/S.4839B), which will start to take effect in January 2023, was signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul. It would make it illegal to manufacture and sell cosmetics in New York State that have undergone animal testing. Manufacturers must instead employ widely accessible alternatives to animal testing. However, the law makes a number of exceptions and guarantees that presently on sale cosmetics will continue to be available.

A federal law in the works?

The New York Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act's passage may open the door for a federal law to be voted on. “U.S. history has shown that state activity leads to changes at the federal level. Because of New York’s association with the fashion and beauty industries, passing the New York Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act could be the tipping point that leads to the passage of a federal Humane Cosmetics Act,” commented Monica Engebretson, Head of Public Affairs North America at Cruelty Free International.

People who supported the bill share their take on it

The legislation, which had Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal and State Senator Alessandra Biaggi as sponsors, received nearly universal bipartisan support in both the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate. “More consumers than ever are demanding cruelty-free cosmetics, and I am proud that my legislation banning the sale of cosmetics tested on animals has been signed into law. I am proud to have worked with Cruelty Free International in passing this legislation into law and look forward to seeing more states follow in New York’s footsteps," said Linda B. Rosenthal.

"New York has finally joined the list of forty countries that have taken a stand against this harmful practice. Protecting the safety of humans by testing cosmetics is extremely important, but does not mean that animals must serve at their expense for our wellbeing,” added Senator Alessandra Biaggi.

The Personal Care Products Council also endorsed the new laws (PCPC). PCPC is the major trade group for manufacturers of cosmetics and personal care products in the United States, with 600 member companies representing more than 90% of the country's beauty industry.

Other states who already ban such testing

The big apple will ban such testing in addition to Maryland, Maine, New Jersey, Virginia, and Louisiana, New York joins California, Nevada, Illinois, Hawaii, Maryland, and Nevada. There is currently no federal regulation on this topic in the USA, despite the fact that the sale of cosmetics tested on animals is prohibited in the European Union and many other states throughout the world since many years.