Israeli Minister of Environment Protection passed an amendment to regulations as part of the Wildlife Protection Law on June 9, 2021 and is the first country to ban the sale of fur for fashion. It prohibits the sale and purchase of fur throughout the country. The new legislation will be officially enacted in six months, with a few exemptions.
The Israel Minister signing of the anti-fur regulations limits and regulates an older law that permitted fur sales. Fur refers to animal skins that include hair. According to an issued statement, Israel’s fur ban will save the lives of millions of animals suffering on fur farms or languishing in cruel traps around the world. The fur ban sends a clear message that using the skin and fur of wildlife for the fashion industry is immoral and is certainly unnecessary. Meanwhile, the new legislation will make the Israeli fashion market more environmentally friendly and will promote kindness to animals.
Israel’s ban allows certain exemptions. A granted permission is required for trade in fur or fur products that are used or intended to be used for scientific research, education, for instruction and religious purposes and tradition. In Israel, fur plays a crucial role in the religious tradition of Orthodox Jewish men, who often wear fur hats known as shtreimels on Shabbat and holidays. Therefore, the new legislation will not impact religious groups that wear fur for traditional purposes, but importers will now need to apply for special permits.
Israel becomes the first country in the world where the sale of fur for fashion purposes is outright banned. The ban on the sale of fur goes into effect in December 2021.
Reference
- Ban on animal fur sales! Minister of Environmental Protection Gila Gamliel signs regulations forbidding trade in usage of furs for fashion industry in Israel
- Regulations for the Protection of Wildlife (Amendment) (in Hebrew)
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