Virginia bans cosmetic testing on animals, joining three other states

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) has signed the Humane Cosmetics Act, banning cosmetics animal testing and the sale of animal-tested cosmetics.

The method involves testing household products on animals for safety before they are sold on the market for human use. 

Virginia is the fourth state to adopt the law, which will go into effect beginning on Jan. 1, 2022, according to ABC News.

California was the first state to ban animal-tested cosmetics in 2018, with Nevada and Illinois adopting similar laws the following year.

The ban in Virginia is part of a larger effort to stop animal testing on a federal level, according to ABC. Virginia Rep. Don Beyer (D) announced that he plans to reintroduce federal legislation that would prohibit animal testing across the U.S.

“Great news! Virginia leading the way in banning cosmetic testing on animals, one of a handful of states to do so. I will be reintroducing federal legislation, the Humane Cosmetics Act, to make this the standard across the country,” Beyer wrote on Twitter.

Great news! Virginia leading the way in banning cosmetic testing on animals, one of a handful of states to do so. I will be reintroducing federal legislation, the Humane Cosmetics Act, to make this the standard across the country. Thank you @JenniferBoysko @KayeKory for leading! https://t.co/f3t3iib9Wf

— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) March 15, 2021

The Humane Society of the United States in a statement celebrated the passing of the Virginia legislation, saying, “This fantastic news illustrates a growing momentum in efforts to end unnecessary testing on animals in the United States and around the world for products like shampoos, mascara and lipstick.” 

The organization also thanked Northam for signing the bill into law. 

“We congratulate Virginia lawmakers including the primary bill sponsors, Sen. Jennifer Boysko and Del. Kaye Kory, as well as the residents of Virginia, for taking this compassionate step. And we thank Gov. Northam for signing this bill into law. We now urge other states to follow suit by working swiftly to end cosmetics animal testing and sales of animal-tested cosmetics on their soil at the earliest,” the Humane Society added.

Other states such as New Jersey, Maryland, Rhode Island, Hawaii and New York may also pass similar laws. 

Animal-tested products are also banned by the European Union, the United Kingdom and India.