LA Is Set To Become The Biggest City In America To Ban Fur Sales

Put down the pelt --Los Angeles City Council voted 13-1 on Tuesday in favor of a measure that will ban fur sales.

The measure, Section 53.75, was introduced in June of last year by councilmembers Bob Blumenfield and Paul Koretz, and makes it illegal to manufacture, sell, distribute, import or export any fur or fur product in the city, starting January 1, 2021.

Since one councilmember, Greig Smith, voted against the measure, it will go back before council next week before going to the mayor's desk for final approval.

Today's vote takes Los Angeles one step closer to being the largest city in America to ban the sale and manufacture of fur products.

There are some exceptions to Blumenfield and Koretz's measure. The following would NOT be illegal:

• Furs of animals trapped by California Fish and Game license holders;
• Pelts from already deceased animals being preserved through taxidermy;
• Used furs transferred between private parties;
• Used furs being bought, sold, donated or owned by a person who's not in the primary business of selling fur products, including non-profits, second-hand shops and pawn shops;
• Manufacturing a fur product by exclusively sourcing used fur;
• A fur product that's only being transported through the city.

The ordinance states that it will "foster a more kind and humane environment within the City," and that "the sale and manufacture of fur is inconsistent with the City's goal of being a community who cares about and promotes animal welfare."

At Tuesday's City Council meeting, Blumenfield noted that many major fashion brands and designers, including Gucci, Diane von Furstenberg, Chanel and Michael Kors have already decided to remove fur from their lines.

"Let's show that we are that responsible governing body, and end this outdated and deplorable practice," he said. "The time is long overdue -- it's 2019."

Added Koretz, "We saw films of this in committee it was hard to take...even the most humane fur process is not humane, and it's time we end it."