Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., is heralding a new law — which goes into effect Friday — intended to crack down on the illegal dog and cat fur trade.
Moran’s “Truth in Fur Labeling Act” will require any garment containing any amount of fur to list the species of the animal on the product’s label.
Currently, there’s a loophole that exempts garments with a small amount of fur from having labels that disclose the name of the species, country of origin, and other consumer information.
“This loophole has been exploited to pawn off dog, cat, and other animal fur as an artificial fiber,” Moran said. “Consumers with allergies or ethical objections to fur, or those who may have concerns about the use of certain species for fur production, will now be protected from deceptive advertising and able to make educated purchasing decisions.”
Michael Markanian, chief operating officer of The Humane Society of the United States, also hailed the new law, saying the organization is grateful to Moran “for working to bring more accuracy and transparency to the fur fashion industry, and for his leadership on this important animal welfare and consumer protection issue.”
Garments bought by retailers on or after March 18 will be immediately subject to the new rules, while those purchased before then will have a year before enforcement starts.
