California Moves Toward Requiring Labels on All Fur-Bearing Garments

(World Trade Interactive)

The California State Assembly voted April 5 to require that all garments made with animal fur carry a label indicating the animal from which the fur was taken and the country of origin. If the measure (Assembly Bill 1656) is approved by the state Senate and signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, California will join Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Wisconsin on the list of states that have imposed such a requirement.

The federal Fur Products Labeling Act requires all garments made entirely or partly with fur to include a label disclosing various information, including the name of the animal from which the fur was taken and the country of origin if the product was imported. However, this requirement is waived if the cost of the fur trim used on a garment, or the selling price of a fur product, is $150 or less. This exemption does not apply if the product contains dog or cat fur. Furthermore, the Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000 prohibits importing, exporting, selling, trading, advertising, transporting or distributing any products made with dog or cat fur.

The sponsors of the California bill noted that the $150 loophole in federal law disadvantages consumers that are allergic to fur or object to wearing it on ethical grounds.