Call for move to ban sale of real fur after some found under fake fur labels

MPs have called for a consultation to ban the sale of real fur after finding that retailers and Trading Standards are "complacent" about it being labelled as fake.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) Committee found that local authorities and Trading Standards have been "poor" at enforcing regulations around the sale of real fur following its inquiry into reports that major high street and online retailers were selling it as fake.

The committee said it viewed Brexit as an opportunity to tighten controls and called for a consultation on a ban on the sale of real fur.

The inquiry follows recent cases of real fur being sold as fake by major high-street and online retailers including TK Maxx, BooHoo, Amazon, Not On The High Street, Groupon, Etsy, Tesco, FatFace, Boots, Kurt Geiger and Romwe.

The committee noted that many of these retailers had no-fur policies, but the "faux" material came from a variety of animals including rabbit, fox and chinchilla.

Committee chairman Neil Parish said: "Reports of real fur being sold as fake fur shows that retailers are flouting their responsibility to consumers.

"The mis-selling of real fur should not be discovered by campaign organisations and the media, but by Trading Standards officers and retailers.

"Retailers of all sizes are complacent about the issue of fake faux fur. It is illegal to give misleading information and Trading Standards have been poor at identifying and acting against those who are doing so.

"The Government must ensure that Local Authorities are properly resourced, and local authorities should ensure that Trading Standards are properly trained.

"Brexit provides an opportunity to step up our game when it comes to labelling.

"The labelling of clothes must be consistent, transparent and customer-friendly, but current EU requirements are not good enough to allow consumers to understand the origin and contents of their clothing.

"Finally, the Government should consider launching a consultation to ban the sale of real fur outright."

Fur farming was banned in the UK in 2000.

The UK still imports and sells fur from a range of species such as fox, rabbit, mink, coyote, raccoon dog and chinchilla.

A Government spokesperson said: "The government shares the British public's high regard for animal welfare, and fur farming was banned in the UK in 2000.

"Trade in fur from domestic cats, dogs or commercial seal hunts are also banned, but while the UK is a member of the EU it is not possible to introduce additional restrictions on the fur trade.

"Brexit gives us the opportunity to go further. Meanwhile, we will closely consider the committee's report and respond in due course''