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The HSUS Files Legal Challenge on Fur Labeling

March 13, 2007

UPDATE

The HSUS submitted a revised petition to the FTC on May 15, 2007. Foot Locker and Michael Kors pledged to implement new policies about fur and were dropped from the revised petition.


	©Lauri Sippu
	Raccoon dogs like these have been skinned alive in China for fur trim—which has shown up in U.S. stores. » See video of raccoon dog skinned alive for fur.

In order to protect animals and consumers from widespread abuses in the apparel industry, The Humane Society of the United States filed a legal petition [PDF] with the Federal Trade Commission today seeking to enforce the Fur Products Labeling Act against 14 major retailers and designers concerning false advertising and false labeling of fur garments.

Of the fur-trimmed jackets HSUS tested by mass spectrometry, 96 percent were reported as deriving [PDF] from raccoon dog, domestic dog, or wolf, and 100 percent were either falsely advertised (some as faux), falsely labeled, not labeled at all, or had a combination of problems. One jacket was correctly labeled as coyote but was advertised as "faux."

Domestic dogs and raccoon dogs are killed in brutal ways for their fur in China. The raccoon dog is a wild member of the dog (Canidae) family with markings resembling those of a raccoon. They are known to be skinned alive for fur in China, where they are caged and killed in large numbers.

In response to the investigation, many retailers and designers took positive action to put customers and animals first, but a disappointing number did not.

ACTIONS TAKEN BY RESPONSIBLE DESIGNERS AND RETAILERS
(Some took action beyond what is listed)

Will go fur-free within a year

Calvin Klein

Tommy Hilfiger

Pulled garments and indicated they will not use raccoon dog fur in future

Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter's Rocawear

Sean "Diddy" Combs' Sean John

Endorsing H.R. 891, the Dog and Cat Fur Prohibition Enforcement Act

Tommy Hilfiger

Burlington Coat Factory

Loehmann's

House of Dereon