The Humane Society of the United States filed a legal petition with the Federal Trade Commission today seeking criminal and civil penalties against more than a dozen nationally known retailers and fashion designers for the false advertising and mislabeling of raccoon dog and other fur garments. The HSUS filed a similar action against 12 retailers and designers last year, including five companies that are also named in the latest petition.
"The epidemic of false advertising in the fur industry only seems to be getting worse," said Kristin Leppert, director of the fur-free campaign for The HSUS. "How many raccoon dogs will be skinned alive and sold as faux fur before this unconscionable behavior comes to a halt?"
More than 20 companies have now been named in the FTC proceeding, including nine that were added in the latest filing: Bloomingdale's, Inc.; Caché, Inc.; Dr. Jays, Inc.; ELuxury.com, Inc.; Pasha & Jo; Ramosport; Saks Incorporated; Sears, Roebuck and Co.; and Yoox S.p.A.
Over the last three winters, The HSUS has identified dozens of falsely advertised or falsely labeled garments — 70 percent of which contained fur from the raccoon dog, an Asian member of the dog family, that has been documented to be skinned alive in China. Among the false names used for raccoon dog fur are: Faux fur, Ecological fur, Polyester, Coyote, Rabbit, Canis Latranis, Raccoon and Finni Raccon.
In the U.S. Congress, Reps. Jim Moran (D-Va.) and Mike Ferguson (R-N.J.) have introduced the Dog and Cat Fur Prohibition Enforcement Act—H.R. 891—that would require labeling of all fur garments regardless of value, and would ban the sale of raccoon dog fur. The bill has 163 co-sponsors in the House, and The HSUS calls on Congress to act swiftly to pass this much-needed reform.
Click here to view today's petition. Click here to view last year's petition. Visit http://www.humanesociety.org/furfree for more information.
Facts:
The raccoon dog has been documented being skinned alive for the fur trade.
The Federal Trade Commission is tasked with enforcing the Fur Products Labeling Act and protecting consumers from deception.
It is illegal to import, export, sell or advertise any domestic dog fur in the United States.
Under current law, fur must be identified with a label, but only if the value of the fur exceeds $150. Once fur is identified on a label or advertisement, regardless of value, the species must be accurately disclosed.
"Asiatic raccoon," although not the accepted common name in use by the scientific community, is the name required under federal law in advertising and labeling of fur garments made from the raccoon dog.
Raccoon dogs are not raccoons (Procyon lotor) — they merely have facial markings that resemble raccoons.
Raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) are a member of the dog family. Indigenous to Asia, including eastern Siberia and Japan, these small, fox-sized furry animals seem to enjoy social contact.
Timeline:
Dec. 20, 2007 – The HSUS published results finding that many leading retailers—including Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus, Lord & Taylor, Dillard's, Saks Fifth Avenue and Yoox.com—were selling certain jackets with the brand names Burberry, Andrew Marc, Marc New York, Preston & York, Aqua, Ramosport and Adam+Eve that were falsely advertised or mislabeled as faux fur or "ecological fur" when in fact they are trimmed with real animal fur.
Aug. 15, 2007 – Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer signs legislation requiring all clothing that includes fur or faux fur sold in New York State be correctly labeled as being "faux fur" or "real fur." The law went into effect Nov. 13, 2007.
March 13, 2007 – The HSUS petitions the Federal Trade Commission seeking penalties against 14 retailers and designers for violation of the federal Fur Products Labeling Act. Due to subsequent remedial measures that Foot Locker, Inc. and Michael Kors USA, Inc. implemented, The HSUS later withdrew those two companies from its petition. The petition is still pending before the FTC.
Feb. 7, 2007 – Reps. Moran and Ferguson introduce the Dog and Cat Fur Prohibition Enforcement Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Dec. 2006 – Tests commissioned by HSUS investigators find raccoon dog fur on jackets being advertised as "faux" and/or labeled as other species, such as raccoon or coyote.
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