Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act to Be Signed into Law in California

California Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act (SB 1249) was unanimously passed with a vote of 80 to 0 in the state Assembly. The bill will prohibit the sale of cosmetics tested on animals after January 1, 2020 in the state of California, and violators would be subject to an initial fine of $5,000 (with further fines of $1,000 per day) until the violation is resolved. During last-minute negotiations, the bill was modified to contain two exceptions: that animal-testing would be allowed if a cosmetic product or ingredient required testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration due to a health concern, and as a regulatory compliance imposed by a foreign authority (a provision that will expire by January 2023). SB 1249 was authored by Senator Cathleen Galgiani and supported by medical group Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and animal-rights advocacy group Social Compassion in Legislation (SCIL). “Passing [SB] 1249 will alter testing practices across the globe,” Kristie Sullivan, PCRM’s vice president of research policy, said. “The use of non-animal testing methods available today will surge, encouraging the development of even more human-relevant testing methods—methods that are applicable to safety testing beyond the area of cosmetics.” In May, the bill passed the state Senate with a 21 to 9 vote and garnered the unanimous support of California’s Democratic Party. “I’m proud of California lawmakers for moving science, industry, and ethics forward today,” Senator Galgiani said. “Cruelty-free cosmetics are good for business, safe for humans, and don’t harm animals.” California Governor Jerry Brown has until September 30 to sign SB 1249 into law.