U.S. – City of San Francisco Bans Sale of Fur and Fur Products

Vol. 1020 | 17 Apr 2018

On April 13, 2018 the City and County of San Francisco (California) passed ordinance to ban the sale of “Fur” and “Fur Products.” The ordinance prohibits sale, offer for sale, display and manufacturing of fur from January 1, 2019.

“Fur” and “Fur Products” are defined as:

• “Fur” means any animal skin or part thereof with hair, fleece, or fur fibers attached thereto, 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 thereto; or lambskin or sheepskin with fleece attached thereto.
• “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.

The ordinance allows fur purchased prior to March 20, 2018, to be sold until December 31, 2019, as long as the person or entity produces upon the Director of the Department of Public Health’s request an invoice showing that the person or entity purchased or obtained the “Fur Product” on or before March 20, 2018.

The prohibition on manufacturing and sale of “Fur” and “Fur Products” does not apply to:

• Sale of used “Fur Products” by a person not normally in the business of selling fur products, non-profit organization, or second-hand store, including a pawn shop
• Sale of “Fur Products” made from fur-bearing mammals and non-game mammals lawfully taken under the authority of a trapping license, pursuant to California Fish and Game Code Section 3039
• Manufacturing of “Fur Products” using fur sourced exclusively from used fur products

For questions, please contact Dr. Pratik Ichhaporia (pratik.ichhaporia@intertek.com, +1-847-212-8273).