Senator Cathleen Galgiani’s bill, SB 1249 or the California Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act, has the support of beauty maker LUSH and the Cruelty Free International advocacy group, which is dedicated to ending all experimentation on animals.
And, SB 1249 is sponsored by the non-profit groups Social Compassion in Legislation and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Specifics
“California has long been a leader in promoting modern alternatives to animal tests,” notes Galgiani (a Democrat, representing district 5, Stockton), in her remarks about the bill. “Inaction at the federal level compels California to lead the way in ensuring a cruelty-free cosmetics market for its citizens by barring any new ingredients or cosmetics that are tested on animals,” she says.
The bill Galgiani has proposed would ban the sale of personal care and beauty products tested on animals as well as those made with any ingredients that were tested on animals. But the penalties proposed are more symbolic than punitive.
According to Galgiani’s website, “SB 1249 would make 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. A violation would result in a fine of up to $500 for the first violation and up to $1,000 for each subsequent violation.”
Support
Groups supporting the legislation believe there are ample and effective alternatives to animal testing and that policies like the one Senator Galgiani has proposed inspire companies to develop more socially and ethically responsible business practices.
“This policy is tried and true as the European Union implemented a similar law over 5 years ago and the sky didn’t fall. Animals have been saved while companies have flourished and grown without cruelty as part of their business model,” says Judie Mancuso, founder and president of Social Compassion in Legislation, in comments included on the Senator’s site.
The EU policy she refers to has been in place since 2013. And, California has already taken measures to limit animal testing. As the Senator’s site explains, “In 2000, California became the first state to make it unlawful to use animals for testing when an appropriate alternative method is available. In 2014, the California State Legislature passed the Cruelty Free Cosmetics Resolution urging Congress to prohibit animal testing for cosmetics and to phase out marketing animal-tested cosmetics.”
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Deanna Utroske, CosmeticsDesign.com Editor, covers beauty business news in the Americas region and publishes the weekly Indie Beauty Profile column, showcasing the inspiring work of entrepreneurs and innovative brands.