California Bans Sale of New Fur Products

Good news for all animal welfare advocates and sustainable fashionistas: California is set to become the first US state to ban the sale of new fur products. The West Coast state's governor, Gavin Newsom, signed the corresponding legislation on Saturday. The ban on the sale and manufacture of fur goods is set to take effect in 2023. Retailers have until then to sell off their existing inventory. Second-hand shops selling pre-owned fur fashion are not affected by the ruling.

«California takes the lead when it comes to animal welfare», the Democratic politician said in a statement. With his package of legislation, Newsom also gave the green light to further protective measures. Under the new rules, wild animals such as bears, tigers, elephants and monkeys will no longer be permitted to perform in circuses. He also added lynxes to the list of protected animals, meaning that hunting these wild cats is now banned in California.

California is also a pioneer in other areas of animal welfare: the state was the first in the entire US to pass a ban on the sale of cosmetics tested on animals (coming into force from 2020). This is a remarkable step for California — home to Los Angeles, the hub of the “rich and beautiful,” where fur and cosmetics of all kinds hold a particularly high status thanks to the fashion industry and Hollywood. One can only hope that the fashion industry and other US states will be inspired by California's example.

The terrible impact of the fur industry

Wild animals on fur farms spend their entire lives in cramped cages, which deprives them of the ability to develop natural behaviours. They are ultimately killed in a cruel manner. In the wild, animals are held in traps for days without food or water until fur trappers come to collect them. Out of desperation, they often gnaw at their own limbs in an attempt to escape.

Fur production is also a serious environmental burden. Fur farms and tanneries pump waste and toxic chemicals into the soil and water. The traps responsible for catching wild animals frequently mutilate and kill other animals as well, including endangered species and even pets.

Animal fur in fashion is no longer acceptable

The majority of consumers want nothing to do with the fur trade, and several major fashion brands have already announced that they will no longer use real fur in the future. Countries such as Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium are distancing themselves from animal cruelty by banning fur farming. Other major cities, such as São Paulo, have also banned the sale of fur.