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(December 21, 2007)—New Jersey Gov. John Corzine signed into law on Thursday a bill that requires more humane, accurate and less expensive tests to assess product safety. New Jersey joins California as the only states in the nation to prohibit traditional animal experimentation for product testing when federally recommended alternatives exist.
"We applaud Governor Corzine for signing this important measure into law," said Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "New Jersey industry, regulators and animals will all truly benefit from a codified policy for alternatives to traditional animal tests in the state. Fewer animals will suffer thanks to this humane and foresighted public policy."
Earlier this month, the New Jersey Senate unanimously approved the measure, which had also been unanimously passed by the New Jersey Assembly in February. This important legislation will save millions of animals from being used in the testing of cosmetics and household products, and will not impact medical research.
S. 1956—introduced by Sens. Joseph Vitale (D-19) and Loretta Weinberg (D-37) —and A. 909—introduced by Assembly members Reed Gusciora (D-15) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-15)—were backed by the Humane Society Legislative Fund, The Humane Society of the United States, Doris Day Animal League, The Procter & Gamble Company, and Unilever.
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Media contact: Heather Sullivan 301-548-7778, hsullivan@hslf.org
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. | 
