Israel has issued a ministerial decree banning the trade in fashion animal fur, becoming the first country to adopt such strict legislation, the Environment Ministry has announced.
“ Trade in animal fur, imports and exports, will be banned, except for the needs of research, education and certain religious traditions “, the ministry said in a press release, specifying that the ban would come into effect in six months.
The use of fur, used ceremonially in the “Schtreimel“, the real fur hat worn by some ultra-orthodox Jews, will continue to be allowed.
“The fur trade industry causes unimaginable suffering to animals and this decree will transform the fashion market in Israel, making it better at respecting environmental standards,” Gila Gamliel, Minister of the Environment, said in a press release.
In addition, the ministry released a letter sent by Jane Halevi Moreno, the director of theInternational Anti-Fur Coalition(IAFC), welcoming this decree, calling it a “historic move”.
“Israel is the first country in the world to close its doors to this hard industry,” writes Moreno.
Israel had already banned the breeding of animals for their fur in 1976.
Several countries around the world apply some bans on the fur trade, especially for endangered species such as seals.
A complete ban on the fur trade is not enforced except in certain cities, such as São Paulo in Brazil, or in the state of California.
India has adopted a similar measure at national level, but only for mink, fox and chinchilla skins.
