Cosmetics Testing Ban (Washington)
H.B. 1097
This bill would make it unlawful for manufacturers to sell or offer for sale in Washington a cosmetic that was developed or manufactured using cosmetic animal testing conducted or contracted for by the manufacturer or its supplier (with limited exceptions).
Status
The Animal Legal Defense Fund supports this bill.
Sponsors: Rep. Amy Walen (D-48)
Introduction Date: January 8, 2024
Washington state lawmakers are considering a bill, H.B. 1097, that would protect animals from the cruelty of cosmetics testing. If enacted, this legislation would ban manufacturers from selling or offering for sale cosmetics developed or manufactured using animal testing in Washington beginning January 1, 2025, with limited exceptions. A manufacturer violating the ban could be punished with a fine up to $5,000 for each violation.
Hundreds of thousands of animals — including rabbits, guinea pigs, and mice — suffer in painful experiments to test cosmetics such as mascara and lipstick. And this testing is unnecessary: Not only can safe cosmetics already be made using existing ingredients, but new technologies are also available that are more effective and reliable, and often faster and less expensive, than testing on animals.
Similar legislation has passed in multiple U.S. states, including Oregon, California, Illinois, and New York.
Why is this law important? Testing cosmetics on animals is both cruel and unnecessary, and this legislation, if enacted, would allow Washington to join the growing list of states to ban this inhumane practice.
Coalition Support: The Humane Society of the United States, Animal Rights Initiative, and Northwest Animal Rights Network.
Opposition: For more information about animal protection legislation in Washington and opportunities to take action for animals, visit aldf.org/washington.
