CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND RETAIL E-SSENTIALS

USA: California bans sell and manufacture of fur product

October 2019 - Relevant for: HARDLINES, SOFTLINES, TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS

On 12 October 2019, the Governor of California approved the Assembly Bill AB-44¹ on the prohibition of fur products and thus California became the first state in USA to implement such legislation².

This bill bans sell, offer for sale, display for sale, trade, or distribution of a fur product in the state of California. The bill would also ban manufacture of a fur product in the state for sale.

“Fur” is defined as any animal skin or part thereof with hair, fleece, or fur fibers attached thereto, either in its raw or processed state.

“Fur product” is defined as any article of clothing or covering for any part of the body, or any fashion accessory, including, but not limited to, handbags, shoes, slippers, hats, earmuffs, scarves, shawls, gloves, jewelry, keychains, toys or trinkets, and home accessories and decor, that is made in whole or in part of fur.

The bill exempts following from these bans –

• used fur product
• fur product used for religious purposes
• fur product used for traditional tribal, cultural, or spiritual purposes by a member of a federally recognized Native American tribe or a non-federally recognised California Native American tribe listed on the California Tribal Consultation List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission
• any activity expressly authorized by federal law

However, the person that sells or trades above exempted fur products shall maintain a record of each sale or trade of such exempted fur products for at least one year.

The bill will become effective from 1 January 2023.

[1] Assembly Bill AB-44

[2] News from the Office of Governor