Chicago, IL (PRWEB) November 17, 2014 -- The National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) sent more than 10,000 petitions to Capitol Hill this month in support of the Humane Cosmetics Act, a bill currently under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The proposed legislation, H.R. 4148, would end the use of animals to test the safety of cosmetics. It would also prohibit the sale in the United States of cosmetics developed or manufactured using animals for testing. The use of animals for testing cosmetics or ingredients for cosmetics would be prohibited one year after passage of the Humane Cosmetics Act. The sale or transport of cosmetics tested on animals would be allowed for three years to allow stores to sell existing inventory, after which time the prohibition would go into effect.
The Humane Cosmetics Act was introduced by Democratic Representative Jim Moran of Virginia in March of this year, and currently has bipartisan support with 56 co-sponsors. The petitions, authored by NAVS and signed by animal advocates in all 50 states and Washington, DC, urge members of the House of Representatives to join as co-sponsors of the bill and ask Senators to introduce similar legislation in the U.S. Senate. An online version of the petition is available on the NAVS website.
While many companies in the U.S. have already moved away from animal testing on cosmetics—due not only to ethical concerns, but also because of a movement toward less expensive, more predictive non-animal alternatives—passage of this legislation will ensure that animals do not once again become subject to such tests in the future. Such protections are already in place in other parts of the world, including the European Union, Croatia, India, Israel and Norway.
“The continued subjection of animals to pain, suffering and death in the name of ‘beauty’ is utterly indefensible,” notes NAVS Executive Director Peggy Cunniff, “especially today, with the availability of safe, reliable and humane alternatives. The voices against animal testing are growing, and as we enter the final months of the 113th Congress, we hope that legislators will listen to their constituents and bring the U.S. up to the same compassionate standards recognized in so many other countries.”
While NAVS’ petition specifically urges Congressional action on the proposed legislation this year, there is a possibility that this issue may not be considered for a vote before the end of the current session. It is expected, however, that Virginia Democrat Don Beyer—who will be succeeding the retiring Moran—will continue to champion the issue on Capitol Hill when the new session of Congress convenes in January.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL ANTI-VIVISECTION SOCIETY
Founded in 1929, the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) promotes greater compassion, respect and justice for animals through educational and advocacy programs based on respected ethical, scientific and legal theory. NAVS works to increase public awareness about animal testing and experimentation, to promote positive solutions that advance science, to support the development of alternatives to the use of animals, and to effect changes that will help end the unnecessary suffering of laboratory animals. For more information, visit http://www.navs.org.
Garett Auriemma, National Anti-Vivisection Society, http://www.navs.org, +1 (312) 427-6065 Ext: 225, [email protected]
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