Report on H.R. 4148, the Humane Cosmetics Act

SUMMARY

The Committee on Animal Law issued a report supporting passage of H.R.4148, the Humane Cosmetics Act. This legislation’s primary effect would be to prohibit any entity from conducting animal testing in the United States for purposes of evaluating the safety or efficacy of a cosmetic product, or contracting with another party to do so when the cosmetic testing affects interstate commerce. The Committee supports the Bill because it would (a) abolish practices that cause unnecessary pain and suffering to animals and are against public sentiment; (b) end tests which are not mandated by law and have been proven to be unreliable and inadequate to demonstrate effects on humans; and (c) follow state and international trends towards abolishing cosmetic animal testing.