Another US State Just Banned Sale Of Cosmetics Tested on Animals

By Mayukh Saha / Truth Theory

Another state in the United States, New Jersey, has decided to ban the sale of those cosmetics which are specifically tested on animals. This was passed in the legislative assembly in a list that had more than 1,000 cosponsors supporting the bill. The new law, which has been numbered S1726, would follow seven other states with bans that are similar.

This highlights the notion that the public is currently showing more interest in products that are cruelty-free. Phil Murphy, the Governor of New Jersey, went on to sign the bill on the 8th of November after it was passed unanimously in the State Assembly and the Senate. The bill was first introduced in the February of 2020 by Senators Nellie Pou and Joseph Lagana.

Read: Carcinogenic Animal Testing: How Cigarettes Are Tested On Animals

New Law Would Ban The Sale Of Animal-Tested Cosmetics 

This bill to ban the sale of cosmetics that have been tested on animals has been slated to go into effect in March next year. The law clearly states that any and all animal tests for cosmetics are quite painful and harmful to the animal. Also, there has been a massive development in alternative testing methods such as the use of computer models and human tissues which are engineered. Not only would these be cheap and far more accurate, they would also be cruelty-free. 

The bill from New Jersey was built on the reports of multiple studies which showed a massive bipartisan, widespread support from Americans- who wanted to do away with the practice of animal testing. A study in 2019 by Cruelty-Free International highlighted that close to 79% of respondents ended up supporting cruelty-free practices. Another survey that cropped up from The Humane Society of the United States also discovered that around 67% of the respondents wanted to end animal testing- and would rather prefer alternative methods. 

Vicki Katrinak, the current director of The Humane Society’s Animal Research and Testing wing, recently commented that with the passage of this law, New Jersey has recognized the overwhelming public opinion that animals should not be suffering to test cosmetic products or ingredients. Also with a growing number of test methods available, there is currently no ethical justification to continue showing cruelty towards animals- for the sake of either mascara, shampoo, or aftershave. 

This New Law Could Be The First Step In The Right Direction

The new bill from New Jersey would be an expansion to a previous law from the same state which banned the testing of cosmetics on animals within the state. Nevertheless, the law also decreed that the testing wouldn’t be done only if alternative methods existed.

The current law forbids any testing- irrespective of alternative methods existing for usage or not. S1726 also bans the sale of cosmetics which are animal-tested within the state- irrespective of them being made elsewhere. Any violation of the law will see a fine incurred up to $1,000 per offense. 

Read: Australian Government Plans To Ban All Animal Testing For Cosmetics In 2020

As of now, there are eight states- Hawaii, California, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, and Nevada, that have banned animal cosmetic testing. The Humane Society of the United States has also been working to ensure that the Humane Cosmetics Act gets passed- which would ban the sale of cosmetics that are made through animal testing. This would also see animal testing being banned throughout the country.

CHECK OUT THE TRUTH THEORY YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND SUBSCRIBE TO STAY UPDATED, CLICK HERE 

Image Credits: PETA  & 123RF