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California: Support legislation to promote alternatives to animal testing!

In 2000, California became the first state to pass a law requiring the use of alternative methods to test cosmetics, household cleaners, pesticides and industrial chemicals. Because this law only applies to those methods that have gone through a lengthy and outdated validation process, it has fallen short of its intended result to speed up the use of non-animal methods for product testing. New legislation, AB 357, has been introduced that would update that law, requiring companies and their contract testing facilities to use test methods that replace animal testing when they are available and provide information of equivalent or better scientific quality and relevance for the intended purpose. Specifically, the legislation will:

Update the definition of an alternative test method
Require reporting of information about the use of alternative test methods

No longer considered the gold standard of testing, animal models carry serious scientific limitations. Non-animal alternatives provide more efficient as well as more effective product safety assessments. Thousands of animals may be used for a single test, and they often suffer for months or years before being euthanized while human cell-based tests and advanced computer models deliver human-relevant results in hours or days. Twenty-first century science is rapidly moving away from outdated animal tests as many faster, less expensive and more human-relevant alternative methods have become available and this legislation will ensure that companies in California are taking advantage of these new testing strategies as soon as they are approved for use.

TAKE ACTION

Use the form below to submit a letter to your California senator in support of AB 357 to require the use of non-animal test methods. Be sure to edit your message so it stands out.

This action alert is for U.S. residents. International advocates, please visit Humane Society International.

Your Message

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Dear Senator,

As a constituent, I am writing to urge you to support legislation, AB 357, to require the use of non-animal test methods in California.

Non-animal alternatives provide more efficient as well as more effective product safety assessments. Human cell-based tests and advanced computer models, for example, deliver human-relevant results in hours or days, unlike some animal tests that can take months or years. No longer considered the gold standard of testing, animal models carry serious scientific limitations and cause immense suffering to the animals involved that are not protected by the Animal Welfare Act.

Twenty-first century science is rapidly moving away from outdated animal tests as many faster, less expensive and more human-relevant alternative methods have become available, including artificial human tissue, organs-on-chips and sophisticated computer programs. This legislation will ensure that companies in California are taking advantage of these new testing strategies as soon as they are approved for use.

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