California’s fur ban, which applies to the sale and production of new products made from animals’ fur, has come into effect at the start of the new year 2023. The law behind this ban (Assembly Bill 44) was passed in 2019, making California the first US state to ban the sale and manufacture of new fur products.
Assembly member Laura Friedman, D-Glendale, who championed this trailblazing law, said, “the year 2023 marks a historic step forward for California with the implementation of a law that truly represents the values of our constituents… Californians do not want to see animals live and die in cruel ways for nothing more than fashion, and I’m so pleased that this law will help uphold our state’s animal welfare standards as well as potentially help drive innovation for more sustainable fashion alternatives.”
Jenny Berg, California state director for the Humane Society of the United States, said, “we are grateful to California for taking a stand against the cruel fur industry by implementing this state-wide ban on the production and sale of new fur products…The fact that around 100 million animals are still raised and killed in fur factory farms for nothing more than a fur coat, hat or other product is archaic, especially when humane, environmentally sustainable alternatives exist. We applaud California for leading the fight against fur and sending a powerful message that animals should no longer suffer and die for fashion.”
Before this ban was passed, four Californian municipalities, Los Angeles (2018), San Francisco (2018), Berkeley (2017) and West Hollywood (2013), also passed similar measures. Across the US, currently, 12 cities have passed laws phasing out new fur sales, and in 2021, Israel became the first country to end fur sales.
The new law only applies to selling new fur garments, not selling used fur products via non-profit thrift stores, second-hand shops, or pawn shops. Additionally, the law does not impact owning fur, and it remains legal to wear fur. Which country, state, or city will be the first to ban the wearing of fur?
