The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) directs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure that cosmetics are safe and properly labeled.  The FDCA does not specifically require the use of animals in testing cosmetics for safety nor does the FDCA subject cosmetics to FDA premarket approval.  The FDA does not certify claims such as "Cruelty-Free" or "Not Tested on Animals" on cosmetic labeling.

To date, eleven states have enacted laws prohibiting manufacturers from selling cosmetic products that were developed or manufactured using animal testing:

• California;
• Hawaii;
• Illinois;
• Louisiana;
• Maine;
• Maryland;
• Nevada;
• New Jersey;
• New York;
• Oregon; and
• Virginia.

Washington State statute is silent on the manufacture or development of cosmetics that use cosmetic animal testing.  

Manufacturers are prohibited from selling or offering for sale a cosmetic if the cosmetic was developed or manufactured using cosmetic animal testing beginning January 1, 2025. 

A cosmetic is defined as articles intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into or otherwise applied to the human body for the purpose of cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering one's appearance. 

Exceptions. Manufacturers may sell a cosmetic developed or manufactured using cosmetic animal testing conducted or contracted for by the manufacturer or its supplier when such cosmetic animal testing is:

• conducted outside of the United States to comply with a foreign regulatory authority's requirement, if evidence derived from the testing was not relied upon to substantiate the safety of the cosmetic ingredient or cosmetic product sold by a manufacturer in Washington;
• conducted for any cosmetic or cosmetic ingredient subject to regulation under applicable portions of the FDCA;
• conducted for a cosmetic ingredient intended to be used in a noncosmetic product, and is conducted under a federal, state, or foreign regulatory authority regulation, if evidence derived from the testing was not relied upon to substantiate the safety of a cosmetic sold in Washington, unless:
  1. there is documented evidence of the noncosmetic intent of the test; and
  2. there is history of the ingredient's use outside of cosmetics at least 12 months before the reliance; or
• requested, required, or conducted by a federal or state regulatory authority and the following additional criteria are satisfied:
  1. there is no nonanimal alternative method or strategy recognized by any federal or state agency or organization;
  2. the cosmetic ingredient or nonfunctional constituent poses a risk of causing a specific human health problem that is substantiated, and the need to conduct animal testing is justified and supported by a detailed research protocol; and
  3. the cosmetic ingredient is in wide use and cannot be replaced by another cosmetic ingredient capable of performing a similar function. 

The prohibition on manufacturers selling a cosmetic developed or manufactured using cosmetic animal testing conducted or contracted for by the manufacturer or its supplier does not apply when:

• a cosmetic in its final form, or ingredient in a cosmetic, was tested on animals before January 1, 2025, even if the cosmetic or ingredient is manufactured after January 1, 2025, provided that no new animal testing occurs after that date by or on the behalf of the manufacturer; or
• a cosmetic manufacturer reviews, assesses, or retains evidence from a cosmetic animal test. 
  

Enforcement and Preemption. Manufacturers in violation of these regulations commit a civil violation punishable by a fine up to $5,000 for each violation. 

 No political subdivision may establish or continue any prohibition on or relating to cosmetic animal testing that is not identical to the prohibition established.