An Act promoting humane cosmetics and other household products by limiting the use of animal testing

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jo Comerford and 12 co-sponsors

Prohibits traditional animal testing for cosmetics and related products in MA when a valid alternative exists, with regulatory standards to ensure safety.

House concurred

Overview

SD 1640, titled An Act promoting humane cosmetics and other household products by limiting the use of animal testing, proposes to phase out traditional animal testing for cosmetics, household products, and related chemicals or ingredients in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts whenever a valid alternative test method exists. The bill142 would establish regulatory standards to ensure alternative methods are safe and provide an exemption for medical research. The measure was introduced in 2025 and, per the latest status, the House has concurred.

What the bill would do

Prohibit the use of traditional animal testing for cosmetics, household products, chemicals, or ingredients in Massachusetts if a valid alternative test method is available.

Require the state Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner to promulgate regulations that establish standards for alternative test methods to ensure safety and comparable validity to traditional animal tests.

Encourage alignment with international best practices, specifically citing the OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals.

Key provisions and definitions

Section 174I added to Chapter 140:

Definitions include:
Alternative test method: non-animal methods (e.g., computational toxicology, in vitro studies, high-throughput screening, bioinformatics, systems biology) that yield valid information equivalent to traditional testing.
Traditional animal test method: conventional use of animals to gather data on biological effects.
Commissioner: Massachusetts DPH Commissioner.
Manufacturer and Contract testing facility: entities involved in producing or testing products, formulations, chemicals, or ingredients.
Medical research: exempt from the prohibition.

Prohibition: No manufacturer or contract testing facility may use a traditional animal test method when a valid alternative exists, in the context of testing products, formulations, chemicals, or ingredients in the Commonwealth.

Regulatory framework: The Commissioner must promulgate regulations to implement, enforce, and administer the section, including standards for alternative methods and ensuring safety and validity.

Implementation timeline and mechanics

Regulations: The Commissioner must promulgate implementing regulations no later than 180 days after passage.

Effectiveness:

Section 1 (the prohibition) takes effect six months after passage.
Section 2 (regulatory provisions) takes effect upon passage.

The bill directs adherence to OECD guidelines when establishing standards.

Who is affected

Primary: Manufacturers and contract testing facilities that conduct testing of cosmetics, household products, or their ingredients in Massachusetts.

Regulators and agencies: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, which would implement and enforce the new standards.

Public health and animal welfare stakeholders support the move toward non-animal testing methods.

Medical research remains exempt from the prohibition.

Context and next steps

There is precedent for similar measures (a related bill from the prior session, Senate No. 1424, 2023-2024).

Status notes indicate the House concurred after initial filing; the bill has progressed through committee considerations, with timelines tied to regulatory development.

If you’d like, I can compare this bill to existing Massachusetts laws on animal testing or provide a side-by-side with similar bills in other states.