The Personal Care Products Council was a key backer of the Humane Cosmetics Act of 2019, a bill banning animal testing on cosmetics sold in the United States. The legislation didn't get a vote in Congress, but the trade group was recently recognized with an award for being a champion of the bill.

The Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Legislative Fund presented PCPC with the Henry Spira Humane Corporate Progress Award on Feb. 25. Henry Spira was an animal rights activist who called out cosmetic companies decades ago for testing ingredients on the eyes of rabbits.

PCPC says on its website that member companies have not tested their products on animals since the mid-1980s, unless required by government regulation to do so.

"We firmly believe that partnerships are key to achieving meaningful solutions to some of our biggest challenges," Lezlee Westine, CEO of PCPC, said in a statement. "Our collaboration with HSUS and HSLF is essential to enacting legislation to ensure a uniform standard for animal welfare while continuing to support developing safe and innovative products that consumers trust and enjoy every day."

The Humane Cosmetics Act was introduced by a bipartisan group of senators and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Sponsors included Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Sheldon Whitehouse (I-R.I.).

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