Hawaii Takes Step Towards Becoming Cruelty-Free For Cosmetics

Hawaii has taken a step toward becoming cruelty-free when it comes to cosmetic animal testing.

According to Cruelty-Free International, the Hawaii Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act (HB 704, which was introduced by Representative Chris Lee and aims to end the sale of cosmetics tested on animals in the state after 2020, has passed the House of Representatives and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Cruelty Free International, which works with The Body Shop to end animal testing for cosmetics, supports the Act, which it says would bring Hawaii in line with California, the EU and over 30 other countries in stopping the sale of animal-tested cosmetics. The organizations advise people who live in Hawaii to write to their State Senator asking them to support the bill.

‘Modern testing methods’

“Today modern non-animal testing methods that are faster and better at predicting human response than the animal tests they replace are widely available,” Monica Engebretson, North America Campaign Manager for Cruelty Free International, said in a statement.

“Our success in ending unnecessary animal testing in other countries and states proves that positive change is possible. We thank Rep Lee for introducing this bill and the House for its overwhelming support and urge the Senate to do likewise.”

“For over 20 years, The Body Shop has been campaigning to ban animal testing in cosmetics and we’re immensely proud of the impact we have made in changing the law in the European Union,” Andrea Blieden, General Manager, U.S. at The Body Shop, added. “As a leader in the global beauty industry, we’d like to see every state in the US end cosmetics testing on animals.”