Mexico's Senate unanimously approved a federal bill banning animal testing for cosmetics, making it the first country in North America and the 41st country in the world to outlaw the practice. Under the new law, cosmetic research may not include testing on animals, including research on individual cosmetic ingredients and finished cosmetic products. The new law also prohibits the manufacture, marketing, and import of cosmetics where the final formulation or individual ingredients have been tested on animals elsewhere in the world.

We thank the Mexican government for showing leadership on this important issue, and we will continue to work with them to implement the commitments and enforce a robust ban," Antón Aguilar, Executive Director of Humane Society International (HSI) in Mexico, said. "This is a monumental step forward for animals, consumers and science in Mexico, and this ground-breaking legislation leads the way for the Americas to become the next cruelty-free beauty market, and brings us one bunny-leap closer to a global ban.

Bill sponsor Senator Ricardo Monreal said via Twitter, "Finally, we're going to save 'Ralph' and all the animals because today we are approving a historic reform: the prohibition to use them as experiments for beauty products. Beauty cannot be cruelty, and that's why we senators are saving the animals and are issuing laws that firmly prohibit the use of animals for experiments in beauty, cosmetology, or of any type. Arriba los animales!"

While Mexico is the first North American country to ban animal testing, ten states in Brazil and seven in the United States (California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, and Virginia) have passed legislation with similar laws pending in New Jersey, Rhode Island, and New York. Federal bills are also pending reintroduction in the US and Canada.