May 16, 2007

(May 16, 2007)—The New Jersey Senate’s Economic Growth Committee unanimously approved a bill on Monday that will lead to more humane, accurate and less expensive tests to assess product safety. Earlier last year, the New Jersey Assembly passed the bill by a unanimous vote.

Introduced by Senators Joseph Vitale (D-19) and Loretta Weinberg (D-37), S. 1956 has been endorsed by the Humane Society Legislative Fund, The Humane Society of the United States, Doris Day Animal League and The Procter & Gamble Company.

The bill would prohibit using traditional animal testing methods for product testing when federally recommended alternatives exist. This important animal protection bill could save millions of animal lives and will not impact medical research.

“This humane legislation has unanimously passed the state Assembly twice and we hope the Senate will act just as decisively,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “Using non-animal testing methods when federal agencies have approved a safe and equally effective alternative is the humane alternative. It’s unnecessary to use animals when reasonable alternatives are available.”

The bill now awaits consideration by the full New Jersey Senate.

Media Contact:  Lisa Gallo (202) 676-2346, lgallo@hslf.org

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The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. On the web at www.hslf.org.

Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 519 C Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002.