WA Dems Propose ‘Useless’ Ban On Animal-Tested Cosmetics

As the 2022 legislative session picks up steam, we are keeping an eye out for "interesting" or just plain bizarre proposals.

HOUSE REP WANTS STATE BAN ON SALE OF COSMETICS TESTED ON ANIMALS

At first glance, this may seem noble.  However, if you do a bit of a deep dive, you will find that cosmetic animal testing in the U.S. has all but ended (as of a couple of years ago). Even PETA has issued stories and statements about that.

  House Bill (HB) 1615 is the brainchild of newly-minted House Rep Amy Walen, 48th District (parts of Redmond, Bellevue, Kirkland etc).  The former Mayor of Kirkland has put forth a bill that would ban the sale of cosmetics tested on animals in WA, beginning January 1st, 2023.

 BILL CONTAINS A LIST OF EXEMPTIONS THAT MAKE IT 'USELESS'

The bill would ban all sales of all cosmetics (excluding soap) in our state unless it meets some exceptions. One of these is if the products are tested OUTSIDE of the U.S. and meet foreign regulatory standards.

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While increasing numbers of countries have indeed banned cosmetics testing on animals, including the European Union, China has become the 'hotbed' for any animal testing that is still done.  Over the last few years, there's been a vast increase in "cruelty-free" cosmetics that are tested in other ways to ensure their safety. 

Even as far back as 2017, labs across the country and around the world have developed, and continue to develop animal-free testing methods.

BILL IS AN EXAMPLE OF A LEGISLATOR TRYING TO LOOK WOKE

With these alternative methods growing by leaps and bounds, and China becoming pretty much the only major nation that still tests them on animals, HB 1615 is a rather useless piece of legislation, one that shows how off the mark some of our legislators are. It shows how far 'behind' Walen is, along with the 18 other Dem House Reps who signed on to co-sponsor.

There are a lot more pressing needs to be dealt with than this.