WASHINGTON, March 5, 2014 – Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., introduced a bill today which would prohibit animal testing in the U.S. cosmetics industry and phase out the sale of cosmetics tested on animals in foreign countries.
“The U.S. can and should phase out the use of animals in cosmetic safety testing,” said Moran, who is the ranking member on the House Appropriations Interior Subcommittee and Co-Chair of the House Animal Protection Caucus. “Not only are animal-based tests fundamentally inhumane, they also rely on outmoded science that can fail to accurately predict safety for humans.”
He said his legislation would encourage the use of tests that are more cost-effective and would help the U.S. cosmetic industry remain the leader in the global cosmetics market.
The “Humane Cosmetics Act,” H.R. 4148, is supported by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The organization’s CEO Wayne Pacelle said “there is no compelling need for animal testing for cosmetics,” and “it's time to embrace those new technologies and stop harming animals for unnecessary reasons."
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has legal authority over cosmetics, but it differs from the agency’s authority over other products such as drugs, biologics, and medical devices. According to FDA, cosmetic products and ingredients do not need FDA premarket approval, with the exception of color additives. However, FDA can pursue enforcement action against products on the market that are not in compliance with the law.
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