[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 THE CONSUMER PRODUCTS SAFE TESTING ACT

                                 ______


                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 1994

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to 
legislation which I have introduced which will encourage the Federal 
Government to review its regulations and guidelines concerning animal 
acute toxicity tests. The Consumer Products Safe Testing Act will 
provide avenues for increased awareness and research for nonanimal 
toxicity testing as a viable, safe, and healthy alternative.
  Manufacturers are reluctant to use nonanimal tests without 
encouragement from the Federal Government. This legislation would 
encourage industry to expand their research and development, unhindered 
by the Federal Government, to seek new alternative methods of testing 
which are as accurate and more humane than animal tests. This bill 
promotes research and encourages the use of the most technologically 
advanced techniques.
  Alternatives to animal testing are already in use by many household 
product companies including Avon, Revlon, Redken, Paul Mitchell, and 
Nexxus. Tests such as Skintex, developed by Ropak Industries in Irvine, 
CA, and Testskin, developed by Organogenisis Inc., of Cambridge, MA, 
use living skin tissue equivalents. With this legislation, these and 
other progressive companies will help set a new standard for nonanimal 
toxicity testing.
  Introduction of the Consumer Products Safe Testing Act this year will 
form a solid base of support from which we can move forward and pass 
this legislation into law next session.

                          ____________________