Assembly Resolution No. 683

BY: M. of A. Rosenthal L

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
March 2022, as Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Month in New
York State

WHEREAS, Each year, approximately 500,000 animals suffer and die in
cosmetic testing; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize
Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 2022, as Cruelty-Free Cosmetics
Month in New York State; and

WHEREAS, Cosmetic testing on animals is a type of animal testing
used to test the safety and hypoallergenic properties of cosmetic
products for use by humans; cosmetics that have been produced without
any testing on animals are sometimes known as "cruelty-free cosmetics";
and

WHEREAS, Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Month is meant to raise awareness of
cosmetic testing of animals and the inhumane treatment they must endure;
and

WHEREAS, In recent years, the market for animal-tested cosmetics has
been shrinking rapidly; a 2015 Nielson survey found "not tested on
animals" was the most important cosmetic packaging claim for consumers,
and a 2019 poll conducted for Cruelty Free International by Survey USA
showed the overwhelming majority of Americans across party and
generational lines oppose animal testing for cosmetics; and

WHEREAS, More than 1,000 companies are now certified cruelty-free,
and 40 countries have passed laws banning cosmetic animal testing; the
European Union, one of the world's largest cosmetics markets, has been
cruelty-free since 2013; and

WHEREAS, Currently, the United States Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) continues to endorse animal testing methods, however, California,
Nevada, Illinois, Virginia, Maryland, Maine, Hawaii, and New Jersey have
passed cruelty-free laws; and

WHEREAS, Fortunately, more and more cosmetic companies are choosing
not to use animals to test their products; testing that does not involve
animals is becoming faster, cheaper and more reliable for companies to
use and have been found to predict human reactions better than animal
testing; and

WHEREAS, Alternative methods may use simple organisms like bacteria,
or tissues and cells from humans and sophisticated computer models and
chemical methods; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater awareness of this
serious issue, and more must be done to increase activity at local,
State and National levels; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 2022, as
Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Month in New York State; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.