Animal Law, Ethics and Enforcement: Animals for Clothing

Due to concerns on animal welfare and ethics, fur farming bans are increasingly widespread. More and more countries are phasing out fur farming or are adopting stricter regulations.

On Thursday 5th May 2022, the Spanish Parliament formed the backdrop for an NGO event calling for a ban on fur production. Tu Abrigo Su Vida, a Spanish animal protection organisation, was joined – amongst others – by campaigners from Germany, China, Finland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Each year, millions of animals are killed across the globe to supply fur for the fashion industry. Some animals are caught from the wild by cruel traps, while others are raised in cramped cages on fur farms. With so many attractive and sensible alternatives available, fur is simply unnecessary. Even purchasing the tiniest bit of fur trim supports a cruel industry.

In the award-winning documentary THE WITNESS, Eddie Lama explains how he feared and avoided animals for most of his life, until the love of a kitten opened his heart, inspiring him to rescue abandoned animals and bring his message of compassion to the streets of New York. With humor and sincerity, Eddie tells the story of his remarkable change in consciousness.

Leather is produced by transforming raw animal hides through the processes of cleaning, tanning and dying. Although the leather industry uses animal hides which are byproducts of the food industry, the demand for particular kinds of leather products has resulted in the wide scale poaching of animals just for their skin. The demand for leather made from exotic skins has even resulted in hunting of certain animals like snakes and crocodiles to near extinction.

EPA promulgated the Leather Tanning and Finishing Effluent Guidelines and Standards (40 CFR Part 425) in 1974, and amended the regulation in 1977, 1982, 1988 and 1996. The regulatory requirements are incorporated into NPDES permits for , and permits or other control mechanisms for (see Pretreatment Program).

10/13/2014.

The pursuit of fur-free fashion is nothing new. Advertisements from London in the late 1800’s and early 1900s make it clear that there was a market for alternatives to fur on environmental and ethical grounds - and even a “Humane Dress League”.

February 2023

Scroll down to "SEARCH." Type in fur, or leather, or wool.