Ruh-Roh: Fur Labeling Bill Gets Shot Down

Fur from Raccoon Dogs (above) often goes unlabeled on garments, say proponents of vetoed bill

This week, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have required apparel manufacturers to accurately label garments that include real animal fur and cost less than $150. There's currently a law on the books that requires labels only on fur-bearing garments costing more than $150.

Backers of the regected bill (AB1656) said consumers of those lower-priced garments that include animal fur often believe that those garments are, in fact, made from faux fur. Other backers of the bill said there is another more sinister reason for the law. According to Gary Smith, a publicist for Shannon Keith, an attorney specializing in animal law and a producer of an anti-fur trade film, "Skin Trade," real animal fur is often mislabeled, with dog and cat fur being sold on garments labeled as raccoon or coyote.

Schwarzenegger defended his veto, saying that he was concerned about the bill's potential to increase costs for both retailers and manufacturers, and could result in fines of $500 for the first violation and up to $1,000 for subsequent violations.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) wrote the bill. She said consumers should be able to find out if the clothes they buy is made with real or faux fur - especially if they have allergies and moral objections to wearing fur.

"Californians need to know if they are buying raccoon dog or a polyester blend," she told the San Francisco Chronicle. "It shouldn't be a mystery."