H.R. 1657: Humane Cosmetics Act of 2025

The Humane Cosmetics Act of 2025 would ban most new animal testing for cosmetics in the United States starting one year after the bill becomes law. It would also bar the sale or interstate transport of cosmetic products developed or made using animal testing conducted after that date anywhere in the product's supply chain. In plain terms, if a company or its suppliers use new animal tests to support a cosmetic product, that product generally could not be sold here.

The bill is strict, but not absolute. It allows exceptions when the Food and Drug Administration's parent agency says animal testing is truly necessary for safety and no recognized non-animal method exists. It also allows testing tied to drugs or other products regulated under a different part of federal law, and testing done for non-cosmetic regulatory reasons. Another major carveout lets companies continue animal testing outside the United States if a foreign regulator requires it.

One of the most important parts is about data, not just testing itself. After the law takes effect, companies generally could not rely on new animal-test evidence to prove a cosmetic is safe, unless they fit into one of the exceptions. That matters because it tries to shut off the incentive to run animal tests just to create paperwork for regulators. At the same time, the bill says entities can still review and keep animal-testing data, so it does not erase past records or block scientific review.

The bill would also override state laws in this area unless they are identical to the federal rules. That could help companies by creating one nationwide standard, but it could frustrate animal-welfare advocates in states that want stricter bans. Enforcement would fall to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, with civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, and each animal and each day of an ongoing violation can count separately. With 118 cosponsors, the bill has visible support, but the foreign-testing exception and the state preemption language are likely to draw the closest scrutiny.