Contact

What are you looking for?

U.S. – San Francisco Bans the Sale of New Fur Apparel and Accessories

SafeGuardSMay 10, 2018

On March 20, 2018, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a ban on the sale of new fur apparel and accessories in the city of San Francisco. The ordinance will go into effect on January 1, 2019.

The City of San Francisco has announced a ban on fur which prohibits the sale of fur clothes, accessories and even souvenirs in stores and online, after the Board of Supervisors voted in the new legislation in March 2018. The ordinance will go into effect on January 1, 2019. Once effective, it shall be unlawful to manufacture, sell, offer for sale, display for sale, trade, give, donate, or otherwise distribute a Fur Product by any means in San Francisco. The prohibition applies to the sale (both in-store and online) of new fur clothing and accessories, including small goods like keychains and gloves, however, retailers will have until January 1, 2020, to sell their existing inventory of fur products purchased prior to March 20, 2018. The ban does not impact leather, lambskin or sheepskin products, and does not affect vintage or used fur sold at second-hand stores, pawn shops or charities, as long as it is not from an endangered species.

According to the ordinance:

  • “Fur” means any animal skin or part thereof with hair, fleece, or fur fibers attached, either in its raw or processed state. “Fur” does not include such skins or parts thereof as are to be converted into leather, which in processing will have the hair, fleece, or fur fiber completely removed; cowhide with hair attached: or lambskin or sheepskin with fleece attached.
  • “Fur Product” means 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, and keychains, that is made in whole or in part of Fur. “Fur Product” does not include dog or cat fur products (dog or cat fur products are prohibited under 19 U.S. Code § 1308 - Prohibition on importation of dog and cat fur products).

San Francisco becomes the third Californian city to prohibit the sale of real fur in apparel and accessories, after West Hollywood and Berkeley. Those not in compliance will incur a $500 penalty per item per day for first offenses.

Reference:

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors – Press Release [1]

The New Ordinance [2]

SGS Global Softlines has an extensive network of over 40 laboratories worldwide, with a strong team of committed professionals from multi-disciplinary backgrounds. Our internationally accredited state-of-the-art testing laboratories offer a comprehensive range of physical, chemical and functional testing services for components, materials and finished products. We help your company ensure quality, performance and compliance with international, industrial and regulatory standards worldwide. Discover more at www.sgs.com/softlines.

For enquiries, please contact:

Louann Spirito
Director Technical Support, Softlines
t: +1 973 461 7919

Stay on top of regulatory changes within your industry: subscribe to SafeGuardS!

Read more articles for the Consumer Goods and Retail industry

© SGS Group Management SA - 2018 - All rights reserved - SGS is a registered trademark of SGS Group Management SA. This is a publication of SGS, except for 3rd parties’ contents submitted or licensed for use by SGS. SGS neither endorses nor disapproves said 3rd parties contents. This publication is intended to provide technical information and shall not be considered an exhaustive treatment of any subject treated. It is strictly educational and does not replace any legal requirements or applicable regulations. It is not intended to constitute consulting or professional advice. The information contained herein is provided “as is” and SGS does not warrant that it will be error-free or will meet any particular criteria of performance or quality. Do not quote or refer any information herein without SGS’s prior written consent.
Stay on top of regulatory changes within your industry
Read more articles for the Consumer Goods and Retail industry

News & Insights

  • SGS SafeGuardS

1 Place des Alpes,

P.O. Box 2152, 1211,

Geneva, Switzerland