MELBOURNE — Clothing made from real animal fur, including domestic cat hair, is still being sold in Victoria under false labels, according to recent forensic testing commissioned by an animal rights group.
The investigation, led by fashion advocacy group Collective Fashion Justice, revealed that a child’s vest sold by Suttons UGG contained cat and rabbit fur, despite being labeled “100 per cent Australian sheepskin or wool.” Testing was conducted by UK fiber analysis firm Microtex.
Suttons UGG is not affiliated with the Australian brand UGG Since 1974. The company admitted the label on the vest was incorrect, saying they had been told by the manufacturer it was made from a “special fur,” but could not confirm if it included cat hair.
In another case, two beanies sold at Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market were labeled as acrylic but were found to contain fox and raccoon dog fur. Raccoon dogs, often subjected to inhumane killing methods in the fur trade, are native to East Asia and resemble small foxes.
Animal welfare activists and the Animal Justice Party are now calling for a total ban on the sale and import of all animal fur in Victoria. “Every Victorian would be shocked to learn they could unknowingly buy products made from cat fur — possibly while having a cat at home,” said Collective Fashion Justice founder Emma Hakansson.
Australia banned the import and export of cat and dog fur in 2004. However, according to emails seen by the ABC, the Australian Border Force has not reported a single seizure of such items in the two decades since.
In 2020, Consumer Affairs Victoria investigated fur labeling and found all tested products had been mislabeled. Although some businesses were warned and one introduced a fur ban, advocates say the issue remains widespread. Mislabeling real fur as faux can result in fines up to $50 million for companies and $2.5 million for individuals under Australian consumer law.
Hakansson explained how consumers can try to identify real fur: “If the ends are wispy instead of blunt, or if you see skin rather than a woven fabric backing, it’s likely real. Faux fur also shines differently.”
Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell said the onus should not be on consumers. “The government had no issue banning machetes. It should treat this with equal seriousness,” she said.
Louise Ward from Four Paws Australia echoed that sentiment, arguing that fur farming would not meet Australia’s animal welfare standards. “Yet we continue to import that cruelty,” she said.
Internationally, Switzerland recently became the first European country to ban the import and export of cruelly produced fur. The UK is also considering legislation following a major campaign that gathered more than 1.2 million signatures.
Queen Victoria Market said it was unaware of the mislabeled products and does not condone the sale of such items. Consumer Affairs Victoria stated it takes reports of business misconduct seriously and will investigate as needed. Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force declined to comment on specific enforcement actions.
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