New Jersey Residents:
Support Bill to Reduce Animal Testing of Cosmetic and Household Products
Update: Bill Passed 12/20/07

New Jersey Senators are considering an important bill (S. 1956) that would prohibit testing products on animals if alternative test methods have been federally validated for use. The New Jersey state legislative session is quickly coming to a close and we need your help to get this bill passed before it ends!

Every year, millions of animals, including rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, and rats, are subjected to painful testing procedures to assess the safety of personal care and household products. However, there is no law that specifically requires that animals be used to test these products, and non-animal alternatives already exist. S. 1956 prohibits a manufacturer or contract testing facility from using an animal test method for which there is a validated alternative test method that has been recommended by the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM). ICCVAM evaluates new, revised, and alternative test methods, and promotes the validation and regulatory acceptance of test methods that refine, reduce, or replace animal use.

Sponsored by Senators Joseph Vitale and Loretta Weinberg, S.1956 passed the Senate Economic Growth Committee on May 14 and an identical bill unanimously passed the New Jersey State Assembly on February 22. This legislation needs a final push to get it through the Senate before the end of session.

What You Can Do:
1. Please contact your New Jersey state Senator today and urge him or her to vote 'Yes' on S. 1956 to protect animals from unnecessary product testing. To find your state Senator and his or her contact information, go to: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp.

2. Please also contact Senate President Richard Codey and urge him to post S. 1956 for a vote by the full Senate before the end of the 2006/2007 session.

Senate President Richard J. Codey
449 Mount Pleasant Avenue
West Orange, NJ 07052-2734
Phone: (973)731-6770 / Fax: (973)731-0647
Email: SenCodey@njleg.org