Illinois Bans Animal-Tested Cosmetics - National Humane Education Society
September 24, 2019
Paws Up!
To Illinois Governor Pritzker for signing SB 0241 to ban the sale of any cosmetics tested on animals after January 1, 2020.
Pain is the sad reality for animals that are tested on in the cosmetic world. Hidden beneath the glitz and glam adorning the packaging are countless, torturous hours that animals endured to create the products bought in stores. The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) of 1966 was a turning point to help better protect animals used in the name of science. In 1985 amendments were made to the AWA to look for ways to decrease the amount of pain inflicted during research and to use alternatives, when possible, to animal testing
Rabbits and guinea pigs are the common victims used when testing cosmetics. Rabbits are used to test for eye irritants and skin reactions of cosmetic ingredients. Advancements in science are paving the way to decrease the need for this type of testing. Alternatives to the cruel Draize Test used in testing for toxicity levels were found and approved by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2009. This test is performed on a conscious rabbit by dripping a substance into the eye to check for signs of swelling, redness, blindness, and other effects. Lab-grown skin is another alternative helping to replace the painful, skin allergy tests used on rabbits and guinea pigs. In 2011, L’Oréal, one of the major names in the cosmetic industry, opened a skin-growing laboratory in France to help decrease the number of animals used for testing.
In the past 20 years, California, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia, have chosen to ban the use of animal-tested cosmetics when alternatives are available. Thankfully Illinois can be added to that list with the signing of SB 0241 by Governor Pritzker.
Take Action: Illinois residents, thank Governor Pritzker for choosing to create a kinder world for animals in research. Other ways you can show your support is through becoming a compassionate shopper and buy cruelty-free cosmetics.
