Washington State Bans Animal Tested Cosmetics

This month saw a major victory in the fight to end cruel animal testing for cosmetics when Washington became the 12th U.S. state to prohibit the sale of cosmetics newly tested on animals. 

Washington has joined California, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Virginia in taking a stand to protect animals from unnecessary torture by cosmetics companies, and they have sent an important message to the nation that the time for a federal ban is now! 

The victory came after a number of major companies that sell beauty and personal care products in Washington spoke out in favor of the ban, including rue Santé and Lush Cosmetics. 

The support for this state-level ban mirrors the growing movement in favor of ending the outdated practice at the federal level through the passage of the Humane Cosmetics Act. The federal bill has now been endorsed by the Personal Care Products Council, the trade association representing 90% of the U.S. cosmetics industry, as well as over 400 individual companies. 

As more and more states and corporations embrace a compassionate future free from animal testing, the United States Congress will soon have no choice but to do the right thing and join over 45 other countries who have passed laws to end animal testing for cosmetics. 

Washington’s ban puts the United States one step closer to that goal. We're already so grateful to everyone who has signed our petition in support of the Humane Cosmetics Act.