Mislabling of Fur Products

Canada’s Labeling Laws enforce fur farm manufacturers to state when fur is being used in merchandise. However, the type of fur is not required. The United States and most other western countries have banned sales of cat and dog fur. However, Canada does not have limitations on fur imports or exports, excluding endangered species. China’s fur farm employers often mislabel cat and dog fur as “rabbit”, “raccoon”, or any other species to make them more sellable when sending them to other countries. This mislabeling leads its way into countries that do not allow it, and in result, they are getting false representation.

From 2000 to 2008, the United States and most other western countries such as Australia, Europe, and Switzerland have all banned the import, export, and sales of dog and cat fur. However, it is still legal in Canada. Canada’s Textile and Labeling Laws demand fur farm manufacturers to state when fur is being used in merchandise. However, is not required to state the type of fur. Canada’s government refuses to change the current legislation. Even with the banning in other countries, there was still a loophole in the federal law. Any fur garments that have a price value lower than $150 are allowed to be unlabeled. Therefore, products that have any type of fur trim or detail (merchandise that comes from China or Canada) can easily get into countries that do not allow it, “leaving consumers in the dark as to whether they are buying faux or animal fur” the Humane Society of the United States claimed. This so-called loophole is cheating the system and giving these countries exactly what they did not want. These Labeling Laws were not working and needed to be acted on to improve the banning and false labeling before it got wor...

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...ered, “If the garments don’t sell within six months send me an email and I can send labels that say mink.”

Before the laws were strengthened requiring all fur merchandise be labeled correctly, mislabeling was occurring frequently. Consumers in countries that banned certain furs were unknowingly purchasing items with false marketing.

If they continue to enforce the requirements for Truth in Fur Labeling Act, then no more dog or cat fur will make it into our country. If other countries adopt these laws as well, then maybe China will be forced to stop using these animals for fur.

The Truth in Fur Labeling Act does its purpose in forbidding the import, export, and sales of cat and dog fur products. It also prohibits any mislabeled merchandise from being imported and sold. These laws and acts improve our industry by keeping them humane and truthful for our consumers.