House Passes Truth in Fur Labeling Act

Press Release

Congressman Jim Moran, Democrat from Virginia, co-chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, and author of the Truth in Fur Labeling Act (H.R. 2480), lauded the House's passage of the legislation by a unanimous voice vote this afternoon. The bill closes a loophole in the nearly 60-year-old fur labeling law to require the labeling of all apparel containing animal fur, regardless of its dollar value.

Recent investigations conducted by the Humane Society of United States (HSUS) found a proliferation of falsely labeled and falsely advertised fur on fashion clothing sold by some of the largest names in U.S. retailing. Of the fur-trimmed jackets subjected to mass spectrometry testing by HSUS, 96 percent were found to be domestic dog, wolf or raccoon dog, and either mislabeled or not labeled at all.

"Most people would be outraged to learn that their favorite hat or pair of gloves was lined, not with faux fur, but with the fur of their favorite companion animal," said Moran. "But it's a reality due to a loophole in current law that allows apparel worth less than $150 to go unlabeled."

The Fur Products Labeling Act of 1951 requires labels disclosing the name of the species, the manufacturer, the country of origin and other pertinent information for consumers on fur products sold in the United States. That law, however, exempts products sold for under $150.

"My bill applies the current common sense labeling standards to the estimated 13 percent of the fur market that falls beneath the $150 threshold. Finally, consumers will get the truth about the composition of their fur and faux fur items."

The Truth in Fur Labeling Act will now go to the Senate for consideration.

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