New laws passed
Israel In World First Fur Ban Vote
23rd February 2010
Israel in world first fur ban vote
The Israeli government is preparing to vote tomorrow on a complete ban on all fur, the first time a country has ever considered banning fur in its entirety.
The Knesset, the legislative branch of the Israeli government will vote on a bill to ban the farming and processing, import, export and sale of fur from all animal species that aren’t already part of the meat industry.
Recent findings show that 86% of Israelis consider it morally indefensible to kill animals if they are killed only for their fur. The bill was presented for its first reading to the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee on 7th February where it received unanimous support.
This upcoming reading on Wednesday 24th February is with the Education, Culture and Sports Committee and if it is successful, it seems likely to pass through the next two readings and become law, making this upcoming vote crucial to the bills success.
Dr Elly Hiby, head of companion animals at WSPA said
“If this ban is passed, it sets a global precedent of immense value to organisations working to bring an end to the fur trade.”
To date, several countries have banned the production of fur, but not the trade.
The UK banned fur farming in 2000 on the grounds of protecting ‘public morality’, but since then fur imports to the UK have been steadily increasing and fur sales have risen by 30% in the last two years.
Throughout Europe fur production is in decline, as legislation is increasingly banning production and making it economically unviable. But unless countries also ban the trade in fur, this will have little impact on fur consumption and only further cement China’s position as the world’s largest supplier of fur.
Similarly, several countries have banned the trade in fur from certain species but not others. The EU and USA have banned the trade in fur from seals and from dogs and cats, but it remains legal to trade in other species like raccoon dogs and polecats. Denmark has recently banned fox farming, but continues to be the world’s second largest producer of mink fur.
By taking the logical step and simply banning fur in its entirety, Israel would set an amazing global precedent it would be hugely significant for the animal welfare movement and send a clear message to the fur industry.
Elly adds
“By protecting all species of animals from this indefensible industry, Israel would be admired internationally as the first country to acknowledge that fur is of a bygone age. Breeding and killing animals for fashion or luxury has no place in a humane society.”
WSPA is a major funder of the Fur Free Alliance (FFA), the largest alliance of animal protection groups working peacefully to end the fur trade, through initiatives like Design Against Fur and the Fur Free Retailer scheme.
Over the past year we have also been lending support to two organisations – the Anti Fur Coalition and Let Animals Live, who have been doing great work in driving this landmark legislative process in Israel.
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is the world’s largest alliance of animal welfare organisations, currently representing more than 1000 member societies in over 156 countries.
WSPA strives to create a world where animal welfare matters and animal cruelty ends. We bring about change at both grassroots and governmental levels, to benefit animals.
Sent in by: Katharine Mansell