STAND. COM. REP. NO. 415

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 704

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 704 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COSMETICS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to end the painful testing on animals used by cosmetic manufacturers to assess the safety of chemicals used in cosmetic products by making it unlawful in this State beginning January 1, 2021, for a manufacturer to import for profit or sale any cosmetic for which an animal test was conducted.

The Humane Society of the United States, Cruelty Free International, Down to Earth Organic & Natural, National Anti-Vivisection Society, West Hawaii Humane Society, Aloha Animal Advocates, Animal Rights Hawaii, and a number of concerned individuals supported this measure. The Personal Care Products Council opposed this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to January 1, 2150, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

According to the testimony of the Personal Care Products Council, which represents six hundred member companies, personal care product companies are strong leaders in the search for and development of alternative testing methods for safety assessments and have worked with regulators in the United States and globally for acceptance of these procedures as valid non-animal alternatives for toxicity testing methods. Member companies of the Council firmly believe that eliminating animal testing is the right thing to do. Personal care product companies ceased animal testing on finished products in the 1980s.

While the Council has serious concerns regarding some of the provisions of this measure, it is of the position that this measure can be amended in a manner that recognizes the cosmetic industry's commitment to use non-animal testing and at the same time, provide Hawaii's residents with cosmetic products that meet the highest standards for safety and innovation.

Accordingly, your Committee urges your Committees on Judiciary and Consumer Protection and Commerce to engage with the Council toward appropriately amending this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 704, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 704, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair