Animal Testing Weekly Update, Defend protections for animals in labs, California Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act (SB 1249), Social Compassion in Legislation (SCIL) and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)

Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Bill Is One Step Closer to Becoming Law in California

Once upon a time, animal testing was portrayed as a necessary evil by the cosmetics industry. Consumers were led to believe that in order to ensure that a beauty product was safe for human use, it needed to first be tested on animals. This ridiculous notion has since been debunked as scientists have developed several ways of assessing the safety and effectiveness of a product without harming innocent creatures, such as using engineered human skin cells.

As these cruelty-free methods of testing cosmetics have taken hold around the globe, almost 40 countries have moved to ban animal testing. Yet for some reason, the United States still has not done so.

But there is hope: Recently, California Senator Cathleen Galgiani proposed the California Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act (SB 1249), a bill which aims to make the sale of animal-tested cosmetics illegal in the state. If enacted into law, this bill would render it “unlawful for any cosmetic manufacturer to knowingly import or sell any cosmetic, including personal hygiene products such as deodorant, shampoo, or conditioner, in California if the final product or any component of the product was tested on animals after Jan. 1, 2020.”

According to a recent press release from the Social Compassion in Legislation (SCIL) and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), the bill’s sponsors, SB 1249 passed by a vote of 21 to 9 in the California Senate. This exciting victory is a major step in making California the first U.S. state to completely ban the process of subjecting animals to cruel and inhumane treatment in the name of cosmetics testing.

As Senator Galgiani reportedly said after the results of the vote came in, “I appreciate that Democratic and Republican senators came together to move this important policy forward. Looking your best shouldn’t have to come at the expense of harming animals with painful eye and skin tests.”

SCIL Founder and President Judie Mancuso also reportedly thanked the senators who voted in favor of the bill, stating, “We are grateful for every vote cast today knowing hundreds of thousands of animals’ lives are on the line every year. SB 1249 is a crucial step towards making all cosmetics that are sold in California cruelty-free. We are hopeful the members of the Assembly will agree.”

We certainly concur with both of these statements, and we’re so glad that California lawmakers are speaking up for animals even though our Federal government has failed to do so. If you’d like to see SB 1249 become a law in California, please sign this petition on Care2 to tell lawmakers that it’s time to do away with animal testing. Together, we can increase the chances that California will get the ball rolling with this animal-saving legislation and set the stage for the rest of our country to follow suit!

NIH May Cut Protections for Animals Tormented and Killed in Laboratories. When laboratories are allowed to police themselves, the nightmare for the animals who are imprisoned in them becomes even worse. Tell the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that this is unacceptable and that animals in laboratories need and deserve more protections, not fewer.

Proposal to relax rules puts animal welfare at risk

Deadline to submit comments is June 12!
The 21st Century Cures Act directs NIH to find ways to reduce the so-called "regulatory administrative burden" for those who conduct animal experiments, "while" maintaining animal welfare and research integrity. Animal research lobbyists are using this as an opening to reduce oversight and transparency meant to assure compliance with the Animal Welfare Act. This would jeopardize the welfare of tens of thousands of animals at research facilities across the country.


Yet, pro-animal research industry groups are calling for fewer inspections, more self-policing, and weakened requirements for considering alternatives that can replace the use of animals in experiments, which has been one of the most cited problems in USDA inspections.


As NIH works to harmonize regulations and policies associated with animal research oversight, it must make the welfare of animals a top priority. Tell NIH that as it considers streamlining regulatory requirements, it must also ensure that AWA standards are strengthened, not weakened, and animal welfare is not compromised.

In the News

USDA Says No to Third Party Inspections
Earlier this year, USDA announced that it was considering use of third-parties to assess compliance of licensed and registered facilities with the AWA. AAVS was concerned that these third-parties would be industry groups and that there would be a lack of transparency, so we urged supporters to speak out against such a move. You did, and USDA listened, announcing that it is backing away from this proposal. Thank you to all who took action! READ MORE »
Labs and Announced Inspection
Although for decades USDA has conducted unannounced inspections of laboratory, breeder, and exhibitor facilities, the agency recently stated that it wants to start providing advance notice to certain facilities of upcoming inspections. USDA claims that this will improve cooperation, but clearly, it will also allow time to conceal any possible violations, leaving offenders unaccountable. READ MORE »
All Chimpanzees Deserve Sanctuary
In 2015, NIH announced the retirement of all government owned and supported chimpanzees who were used in research. The animals were to be moved to Chimp Haven, the National Chimpanzee Sanctuary. But while many chimps have already been relocated, about 270 are still waiting at three separate lab facilities. Lab officials claim some shouldn’t be moved, but animal advocates say these chimps should be given the chance to live their remaining days in sanctuary. READ MORE »