The City of San Francisco became the first major American metropolitan city to restrict the commercial trade of fur products.

Effective January 1, 2019, a Health Code ordinance will ban the sale, display for sale, and manufacture of “fur products” in San Francisco.  Certain exceptions will exist for used fur products and products made from furbearing mammals and nongame mammals lawfully taken under the authority of a CA trapping license.

“Fur products” is broadly defined to include articles of clothing and fashion accessories, including handbags, shoes, slippers, hats, earmuffs, scarves, shawls, gloves, jewelry, keychains, and the like that are made in whole or in part of fur.  For the purposes of the ordinance, “fur” is defined as any animal skin or part thereof with hair, fleece, or fur fibers attached thereto, either in its raw or processed state, with an exception for fur products of certain ‘domestic animals.’

Importantly, the ban will not be enforced against persons selling fur products between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019, provided the person purchased or obtained the fur products on or before March 20, 2018.  State officials can request the presentation of an invoice to substantiate compliance with the code.

Please feel free to contact our office with any questions you may have regarding this matter.