Hair care has joined the cosmetics segment in the fight against animal testing, with professional hair care brand Paul Mitchell’s announcement that the company has joined Cruelty Free International in supporting the U.S. Humane Cosmetics Act to end the unnecessary suffering of animals for cosmetics tests.

John Paul DeJoria, chief executive and co-founder of Paul Mitchell said, “Paul Mitchell is the first professional hair care brand to take a strong stance against animal testing…we just refused to do it. Since our beginning in 1980, we have been extremely proud to be cruelty free. We are honored to join Cruelty Free International in supporting the Humane Cosmetic Act to end cosmetic testing on animals in the United States. It’s easy to see that our commitment to caring for all living souls as well as the remainder of the planet is a driving force in everything we do. Join us, in helping make our world a more beautiful and better place.”

The Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 4148), introduced by Representative Jim Moran (D-VA) now has 35 co-sponsors and bi-partisan support. If passed, the Act will phase out animal testing in one year, followed by a 3 year phase out of the sale of any animal tested cosmetics. This follows the approach taken in the European Union which began banning the testing of cosmetic products on animals in 2003 and finalized a marketing ban on March 11, 2013; as a result, cosmetic products and ingredients tested on animals anywhere in the world, after that date may not be sold there.

Cruelty Free International is the leading global organization solely dedicated to ending the use of animals to test cosmetics and consumer products throughout the world. Working with governments, regulators, companies and partner organizations worldwide to achieve effective long-lasting change for animals, Cruelty Free International has placed the issue of animal testing on the agenda of many governments for the very first time as part of a global strategy to tackle product testing.