Delaware General Assembly Passes Bill to Protect Consumers from Unlabeled Fur Products

June 25, 2008

The HSUS Urges a Swift Signature by the Governor

WASHINGTON — The Humane Society of the United States applauds the Delaware General Assembly for passing legislation requiring all garments made of animal fur to be labeled as real fur, and urged the Gov. Ruth Ann Minner to quickly sign the bill into law. The measure, H.B. 216, sponsored by Rep. Melanie George Marshall, D-5, and Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, D-2, passed unanimously.

An ongoing investigation by The HSUS found unlabeled jackets falsely advertised and sold as faux fur. Laboratory testing revealed that the garments actually contained real fur from raccoon dogs and other animals. Investigators also found unlabeled jackets with the animal fur dyed unnatural colors like blue or pink.

"Delaware shoppers would be horrified to know that they could be duped into buying animal fur, possibly from a type of dog often skinned alive in China," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president for The HSUS. "We applaud Delaware lawmakers for passing this important policy to protect consumers from rampant deception."

"H.B. 216 is a simple, but important, consumer protection measure which will give all consumers greater confidence in Delaware retailers. I urge Governor Minner to sign this important legislation into law," commented Sen. Henry.

Rep. Marshall said, "I am pleased that the Delaware General Assembly has passed legislation to ensure accurate and consistent labeling on all animal fur garments. Many consumers object to real fur and have a right to know what they are buying."

In the wake of The HSUS's investigation, designers such as Michael Kors, DKNY, Rocawear and Sean John pledged not to use raccoon dog fur. Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Foot Locker decided to stop using fur altogether.

Similar legislation was signed into law in New York last year and Massachusetts and Wisconsin already have similar laws in effect.

A separate bill in the U.S. Congress — H.R. 891, the Dog and Cat Fur Prohibition Enforcement Act — would ban the sale of raccoon dog fur. Additionally, it would require all garments trimmed with fur to be labeled, regardless of value. Current law allows fur valued at less than $150 to go unlabeled. This legislation, introduced by Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., and Rep. Mike Ferguson, R-N.J., currently has 164 cosponsors. The federal bill has been endorsed by retailers and designers such as Tommy Hilfiger, Burlington Coat Factory, Loehmann's, House of Deréon, Marc Ecko Enterprises and Buffalo Exchange.

The bill language is online here.

Photos are available of unlabeled fur garments purchased at Delaware stores and of raccoon dogs in cages in Chinese marketplaces.

For more information on The HSUS's fur investigations, visit humanesociety.org/furfree.

Facts:

• The HSUS investigation found raccoon dog fur on 80 percent of a nationwide sample of fur-trimmed jackets purchased from well-known retailers and designers. Of the raccoon dog fur jackets tested, not a single one properly identified the animal in advertising or labeling, instead calling it such things as faux fur, raccoon or simply not labeling it at all.
• Estimates on the number of raccoon dogs being caged and killed in China range from 1.5 million to 4 million.
• It is illegal to import, export, sell or advertise any domestic dog fur in the United States, but raccoon dog fur is currently not included in this ban.
• The Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000 banned the trade in domestic dog and cat fur after an HSUS investigation revealed the death toll of 2 million animals a year in China and other parts of Asia and found domestic dog fur for sale in the United States.

Timeline:

• 2005 - HSUS begins investigation into raccoon dog fur trade.
• Feb. 2006 - HSUS announces widespread industry scandal finding raccoon dog fur for sale in United States.
• Dec. 2006 - Tests commissioned by HSUS investigators find raccoon dog fur on jackets advertised as "faux" and labeled as other species such as raccoon or coyote.
• Feb. 2007 - Tests commissioned by HSUS investigators find domestic dog fur on unlabeled jackets advertised as "faux" fur.
• Feb. 2007 - U.S. Reps. Jim Moran (D-Va.) and Michael Ferguson (R-N.J.) introduce the Dog and Cat Fur Prohibition Enforcement Act, H.R. 891.
• March 2007 - HSUS files petition with FTC seeking to enforce the Fur Products Labeling Act.
• Aug. 15, 2007 - Legislation to require fur labeling signed into law in New York.

-30-

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.