Nevada Bans Cosmetic Animal Testing

This week, Nevada governor Steve Sisolak signed into law The Nevada Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act (SB 197) which prohibits the sale of any cosmetic product that has been tested on animals after January 1, 2020. The legislation was introduced by Senator Melanie Schieble in February 2019 and supported by animal-rights group Cruelty Free International. “For more than 50 years animals have been used in painful tests for cosmetics. But science and public opinion have evolved and today it is no longer necessary or acceptable to harm animals for new cosmetics,” Schiebel said. “The time has come to make cruel cosmetics a thing of the past and I am proud that Nevada is leading the way.” Nevada is now the second state in the country to ban animal cosmetic testing, following similar legislation passed in California last year that will also be enforced in 2020. “We are delighted that Nevada has become a national leader in ending the sale of cruel cosmetics. This is a significant step not just for Nevada but for the entire United States as history has shown that state activity leads to changes at the federal level,” Monica Engebretson, North American Campaign Manager of CFI, said. “This new law will help inform a way forward for federal legislation so that the US can join the over 30 countries that have already taken a stand against animal testing for cosmetics.”