A new piece of legislation is looking to ban the sale of fur throughout New York State.
The bill was introduced by State Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal and, if approved, the new legislation would go into effect by 2021. Under the new bill, the “[manufacturing], sale, display for sale, trade, giving, donating, or otherwise distributing of a fur product by any means in the state” will be prohibited.
Those who are caught violating the anti-fur bill will incur a $500 fine for a first time violation, up to $750 for a second, and up to $1,000 for each violation after that. Under the bill each fur item will be considered a separate violation. According to the bill’s breakdown,
“‘Fur’ means any animal skin or part thereof with hair, fleece, or fur fibers attached thereto, either in its raw or processed state. “Fur” does not include such skins or parts thereof as are to be converted into leather, which in processing will have the hair, fleece, or fur fiber completely removed; cowhide with hair attached thereto; or lambskin or sheep skin with fleece attached thereto. “Fur product” means any article of clothing or covering for any part of the body, or any fashion accessory, including but not limited to handbags, shoes, slippers, hats, earmuffs, scarves, shawls, gloves, jewelry, and key chains, that is made in whole or in part of fur.”
When Rosenthal introduced the bill earlier this month, she mentioned that fur has already been declining in the fashion industry because “consumers are looking to make ethical and sustainable purchases—fur is neither of those,” According to the NY Post.
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