Lab Animals Visit Capitol, Lobby For An End To Animal Testing

Following the introduction of a federal bill to ban animal testing for cosmetics, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., hosted "Federal Fluffballs," a discussion with congressional staffers about the role of animals in cosmetic testing. The organization teamed up with Congressman Jim Moran, the primary sponsor of the Humane Cosmetics Act, to bring some of the animals most commonly used in tests -- rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and rats -- to a meet and greet at the Capitol.

"Congress is considering major legislation that will affect laboratory animals, and we hope to open a candid conversation about their role in regulatory testing in the 21st century," said animal behavior expert Jonathan Balcombe.

Several countries have already made moves to ban cosmetic testing on animals, including Israel, India and Norway. Last year, the European Union not only banned animal testing in member nations, but also instituted restrictions on the sale of any cosmetics tested on animals. Similarly, the proposed Humane Cosmetics Act would make it unlawful for anyone in the U.S. to conduct or commission cosmetic animal testing, and it would prohibit the sale or transportation of cosmetics tested on animals.

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