The Humane Society of the United States urged speedy passage of The Truth in Fur Labeling Act, introduced last month in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, as H.R. 2480 and S. 1076, to protect consumers by bringing much-needed accuracy and full disclosure to fur labeling laws. The bills, introduced by Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J. and Reps. Jim Moran, D-Va., and Mary Bono Mack, R-Calif., closes a loophole in federal law that allows some animal fur garments to go unlabeled if the value of the fur is less than $150, leaving consumers in the dark as to whether they are buying faux or animal fur.
"Many consumers choose to avoid buying and wearing animal fur and they deserve to know what they're getting so they can make informed purchasing choices," says Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "As a result of our investigations, we've seen dog fur labeled as coyote, and real fur labeled as faux fur. We are grateful to Senator Menendez and Representatives Moran and Bono Mack for introducing this important consumer protection bill, and we urge the Congress to pass it swiftly into law."
Under current law, an estimated 14 percent of garments trimmed with animal fur and sold in the United States are exempt from disclosing the fur in labeling or advertising because the value of the fur is less than $150, even if the fur is dyed pink or blue to look synthetic. The bill will also direct the FTC to review for accuracy the 50-year-old list of names used to describe the types of animals.
Investigations in China have revealed millions of raccoon dogs killed by cruel methods, including being skinned alive. Raccoon dog fur trim was found on more than two-thirds of the falsely advertised or mislabeled jackets tested by The HSUS over the last three years. Domestic dog fur has also been found on unlabeled garments sold in the United States, despite being illegal.
Statements from bill sponsors:
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