[Greens-Media] Greens Questions Raise Hackles over Fur Cruelty and Consumer Safety

[Franks, Office]

Greens' Animal Welfare Spokesperson Tammy Franks MLC has raised disturbing questions in the State Parliament regarding the use of dog and cat fur in South Australia and has called for action to ban its sale and use, on both animal welfare and consumer safety grounds.
'While the importation of cat or dog fur was prohibited into Australia under Federal legislation in 2004 following the lead of the US and the European Union, the use of such fur is not banned within Australia in any state or territory,' Ms Franks explained.
'Tests conducted last year by Humane Society International proved that dog fur items could still be bought in Australia at major retailers like Myers and Wittners. Whether deliberately mislabelled to avoid import bans in Australia, the EU and US, or inadvertently slipping through the net, it is very concerning that current labelling legislation seems wholly inadequate, allowing consumers to be misled and their health potentially compromised, whilst simultaneously propping up cruel and barbaric practices.
'The well-documented animal cruelty angle aside, independent scientific tests from samples of fur and leather from China show hexavalent chromium levels 133 to 733 times safe levels! This toxic and carcinogenic chemical used in the leather tanning process is a time-bomb that threatens the health of anyone, but especially babies and young children who may wear, or come into contact with, these products.
'The Greens are calling on the state government to ensure that  products containing fur sourced from cats or dogs, or from related species such as raccoon dogs, often harvested under conditions of extreme cruelty with some animals literally skinned alive, will not be permitted to be sold here in SA.
'I've called on the Minister to take further action to ensure consumers are protected from the  dangers toxic fur and leather products may pose to health, especially for babies and young children.
'The Greens will continue to work for a total ban on the importation and sale of fur sourced from inhumane conditions or where the provenance of the fur cannot be independently verified, to ensure as much as practicable that Australian consumers are not unwittingly supporting this cruel,  barbaric and dangerous trade.


    For further comment contact Jamnes Danenberg on 0457 549 938