San Francisco, U.S:
On Saturday, the state became the first to prohibit the sale and manufacture of animal skins.
The law, which goes into effect in 2023, will ban the creation of shoes, handbags and clothing from pelts, reported the San Francisco Chronicle.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom also signed a bill restricting most animals from circuses, with the exception for cats, dogs and horses.
“California is a leader when it comes to animal welfare and today that leadership includes banning the sale of fur,”
Newsom said Saturday.
The ban will not apply to rodeos.
Animal rights groups rejoiced in the ruling, claiming the law was long overdue in ending the fur trade that raises animals in squalid conditions before killing them — often through electrocution — solely for their skins.
“We’ve known from people who have gone undercover for years in the fur industry that it is impossible to be assured of humanely raised fur,”
Said California Assembly Woman Laura Friedman.
Retailers will still be allowed to sell secondhand fur clothing under the new law. The ban won’t apply to fake fur nor does it affect leather, cow hides, deer pelts or goat skins.
First-time violators potentially face $500 fines; repeat offenders could be walloped with $1,000 punishments.
“We applaud Gov. Newsom and the state’s lawmakers for recognizing that California citizens do not want their state’s markets to contribute to the demand for fur products,”
said Humane Society USA.
International fashion house Prada announced in May that it would cease using fur, starting with its 2020 spring-summer line.
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