# Plain Language Summary: Humane Cosmetics Act of 2021

This bill bans the sale of cosmetics and personal care products in the United States that were tested on animals. It also prohibits importing these products from other countries. The law applies to finished cosmetic products like makeup, shampoo, and skincare items, as well as the individual ingredients used to make them. If a company tests a cosmetic ingredient or product on animals anywhere in the world, that product cannot be sold in American stores.

The bill creates some exceptions for situations where animal testing might still be allowed. If a cosmetic ingredient is required by another law or regulation to be tested on animals for safety reasons, companies can still use it. Additionally, if there's no alternative testing method available and the ingredient is necessary for a product, the ban doesn't automatically apply. However, companies would need to prove these exceptions actually apply to their situation.

For everyday shoppers, this means the cosmetics you buy at stores will increasingly come from companies using non-animal testing methods like lab-grown skin models, computer simulations, and other modern alternatives. Companies that currently rely on animal testing would need to switch to these newer methods or stop selling their products in the U.S. The law gives companies time to transition and comply, but ultimately aims to phase out animal testing in the cosmetics industry entirely. This aligns with what many consumers already want—products that are effective without harming animals.

Humane Cosmetics Act of 2021

Booker, Cory A.

Humane Cosmetics Act of 2021 This bill generally prohibits animal testing in the evaluation of cosmetic products, and it prohibits the sale or transport of cosmetics developed using animal testing, subject to civil penalties. These prohibitions begin one year after enactment. The bill specifies exceptions to these prohibitions, including if such animal testing (1) is conducted outside the United States to comply with a foreign regulatory authority; (2) is pursuant to a specified finding that there are no nonanimal alternatives to test the safety of a potentially dangerous cosmetic product or ingredient; (3) is of a product or ingredient for a drug or device subject to regulation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); or (4) is required for a noncosmetic purpose pursuant to a state, federal, or foreign regulatory authority. Further, no animal-testing evidence may be used to establish the safety of a cosmetic product or ingredient that is regulated by the FDA after the effective date of this bill, subject to limited exceptions.