There is little point investing in the development and validation non-animal test methods if such methods are not ultimately used to replace or reduce companies' use of animals. For this reason, the Humane Society Legislative Fund has been lobbying for the enactment of state laws that make it illegal for a company to conduct an animal test in cases when a scientifically validated and recognized alternative method is available.
Such has been the case throughout the European Union since the passage of the 1986 animal experiments directive (86/609/EEC), which stipulates that: "An experiment shall not be performed if another scientifically satisfactory method of obtaining the result sought, not entailing the use of an animal, is reasonably and practicably available." In contrast, the U.S. Animal Welfare Act and similar oversight mechanisms only require that an experimenter consider alternatives to painful or distressing procedures.
However, in 2000, the Doris Day Animal League (which has since merged with HSLF) successfully campaigned for an amendment to California's civil code prohibiting "manufacturers and contract testing facilities from using traditional animal test methods in this state for which an appropriate alternative method has been scientifically validated and recommended by the United States federal Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee for the Validation of Alternative Methods or other specified agencies."
In December 2007, HSLF lobbying convinced New Jersey to enact similar state legislation. More recently, a third bill has been endorsed by both senators and representatives in New York, and is currently awaiting the governor's signature.
HSLF continues to urge other US states and the federal government to enact legislation on par with the EU animal experiments directive, and to ensure that existing measures are fully enforced.
