October 14, 2019

Andrew Campbell 

On October 11 California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to prohibit the sale, donation or manufacture of new fur products. The law will go into effect on January 1, 2023, and California would become the first US state to do so. It will be illegal to make all new clothing, handbags, shoes and other items with animal fur. Violators of the ban will face legal penalties of up to US$500 and US$1,000 for repeat offenses. The cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco have already banned such sales or production in similar laws.

Meanwhile, Governor Newsom also endorsed a number of other bills into legislation on October 11 and designated to forbid animal cruelty. One law prohibits hunting, trapping and killing bobcats. Another protects horses from being slaughtered. The other bans animals, such as bears, elephants, tigers, from performing in circuses. In addition, Governor Newsom put up more types of dead animals to an existing forbidden sales list of other wildlife.

Animal rights activists are hopeful that the ban will pressure countries like the UK to follow California’s lead and shut down fur markets for this cruel and outdated industry. According to the Fur Information Council of America, the US fur industry is worth US$1.5 billion. Humane Society International said more than 100 million animals worldwide died for their fur. The CEO and President of the Humane Society of the United States, Kitty Block, is happy with California's law to safeguard wild animals from suffering extreme pain and fear for the sake of fashion.

Photo:Webshot.