California just became the first state in American to institute a statewide ban on animal fur products. Effective January 2023, the new law, which was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday, prohibits the sale and manufacture of new fur products. The ban will not apply to used fur products, fur products used for religious purposes, or for traditional tribal, cultural or spiritual purposes by members of Native American tribes.
The law defines “fur” as “animal skin or part thereof with hair, fleece, or fur fibers attached thereto, either in its raw or processed state”, but it has several carveouts for products that will remain legal, including leather and sheepskin. Prior to Newsom signing the law, several California cities ― including Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and West Hollywood ― already had similar local legislation in place.
Saturday also saw Newsom sign multiple other animal welfare bills, including legislation banning wild animals from being used in circuses and instituting a moratorium on hunting, trapping or killing bobcats. Hopefully, the new laws will inspire other states to follow suit.
