The Physcians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) just launched a new video featuring vegan celebrities to encourage California residents to vote in support of a bill to end animal-based cosmetic testing. Alicia Silverstone, Moby, Harley Quinn Smith, and PCRM President, Dr. Neal Barnard, all lent their voice to promote this seminal piece of legislation, The Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act.
If passed, The Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act (SB1249) would ban the sale of animal-tested cosmetic products within the state of California beginning in 2020. This would include all makeup, hair and skin care, and personal hygiene products. The bill was recently introduced by Sen. Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton), who said in a press release, “California has long been a leader in promoting modern alternatives to animal tests. Inaction at the federal level compels California to lead the way in ensuring a cruelty-free cosmetics market for its citizens by barring any new ingredients or cosmetics that are tested on animals.”
In PCRM’s video, vegan activist and celebrity Alicia Silverstone said this is a “once in a generation opportunity that could help save the lives of millions of animals and make the products that we use on our bodies safer at the same time.”
Silverstone is followed by Moby, who explains the atrocities that occur in cosmetic testing. He also noted, “Every year 100s of thousands of animals are maimed and killed to test cosmetics and their ingredients.”
Dr. Neal Barnard also chimed in. “From a scientific standpoint,” Barnard explained, “animals often respond differently to chemicals very differently. Many of these tests lead to inaccurate and unhelpful results.”
Activists and influencers including Genesis, Jane Velez Mitchell, Ravanna, and Harley Quinn Smith were also filmed to show their support of the bill. Smith and Ravanna concluded the clip by asking viewers to contact their local senator and urging him or her to support the bill.
According to PCRM, cruelty-free cosmetic testing practices already exist, making the use of animals both outdated and inaccurate in comparison to modern technology. If California were to pass this bill, it could make a major impact in the cosmetic space, forcing companies to refine their product lines and make the switch to animal-free testing.
For California residents ready to support this bill, PCRM provides a sample letter to make contacting their senator simple and effective.
Image Credit: Alicia Silverstone
