Illinois becomes third US state to stop selling cosmetics tested on animals
We congratulate Illinois for joining California, Nevada, the European Union and other countries worldwide to end the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics.
Bill SB 241, sponsored by Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) and signed today by Governor J.B. Pritzker stops the import or sale of any cosmetic if the final product or any ingredient have been tested on animals after January 1st, 2020.
Last year, California became the first US state to enact “humane cosmetics” legislation, followed by Nevada in June. Illinois’ new law provides additional incentives for cosmetics companies to invest in non-animal alternatives to help them stay competitive in a changing global market while sparing animals from painful tests.
“Tragically, despite the availability of approved non-animal tests and existing ingredients that are safe for human use, we estimate that over half a million animals are still used annually in cruel and unnecessary cosmetics testing worldwide,” said Monica Engebretson, our North America campaign manager. “By ending the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics, Illinois is matching global progress and has become a national leader on this issue.”
Despite steps forward in more and more states, the United States as a whole still has not passed federal legislation to end cosmetics animal testing. Let your US legislators know that the time for action is now.