Hawaii introduces two new bills to end animal testing for cosmetics

Published: 8-Feb-2018

The US state has introduced two bills that could see a ban come into effect in January 2020

Hawaii has introduced two new bills that could see a ban on the sale of any cosmetic tested on animals by 2020.

Senator Mike Gabbard D-19th (Kapolei, Makakilo, Waikele) introduced the two bills, which aim to bring an end to animal testing and prioritise the use of alternative methods.

The first bill, Hawaii Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act [SB 2115], prohibits the sale of any cosmetic that has been tested on animals after the date of the bill’s enactment, scheduled for January 2020.

Co-sponsers for the bill included Senators Lorraine Inouye, Stanley Chang, Gilbert Keith-Agaran, Karl Rhodes, and Russell Ruderman.

The second bill [SB 2113] makes it mandatory for cosmetics manufacturers, and research and testing facilities, to use scientifically-approved non-animal tests where available.

The introduction of the two bills has been supported by anti-animal testing organisations such as Cruelty Free International.

Monica Engebretson, North America Campaign Manager for Cruelty Free International, said: “In the past 30 years, there have been great strides in the development and use of modern non-animal testing approaches that are often faster and better at predicting human response than the animal tests they replace.

“Moreover, the public overwhelmingly strongly supports alternatives to animal testing and countries around are increasingly prohibiting the sale cosmetics that have been tested on animals.”

If the bills are passed, Hawaii would join more than 30 countries including the EU, Norway, Israel and India in the sale of new animal tested cosmetics.


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