Israel has moved to ban the fur trade, making it one of the first countries in the world to do so; however, the new initiative is seen as largely symbolic as it continues to allow the use of fur for religious reasons.
“This morning we launched an important initiative to ban the fur trade,” said Environmental Protection Minister Gila Gamliel on Sunday. “There is no need or justification for using fur in the fashion industry.”The move was praised by animal rights group PETA, which hailed Israel “for recognizing that the trade in coats, pom-poms, and other frivolous fashion items made from wild animals’ fur offends the values held by all decent citizens,” according to the BBC
However, the law, which could see offenders fined $22,000 or face a year in jail, has a major loophole that will continue to allow the importation of fur for “scientific research, education or for instruction and for religious purposes or tradition.”
That exempts ultra-Orthodox Jews, who often wear cake-shaped sable hats known as shtreimels on Shabbat and holidays, although importers will now need to apply for special permits.
Made from the tails of sables and foxes, the hats can cost as much as $5,000. They are pretty much the only widespread users of fur in Israel, with its warm Mediterranean climate.
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