Several large Swedish fashion companies have said they will stop buying clothes containing angora fur from China, until they have been assured that no cruelty against the rabbits providing the soft fur. The decision comes after the British animal rights organisation PETA published undercover footage of workers ripping the fur off rabbits screaming in pain.
Lindex, MQ and H&M have all contacted their suppliers in China to ensure their rules against animal cruelty are followed.
Lindex says they are very specific in their contracts with suppliers. Animals must be treated well, and the rabbits should have their fur cut off three to four times per year. “It is absolutely not acceptable to rip the fur off,” says Kajsa Lyckdal, press officer at Lindex.
The company will now check that the rules are being followed. No angora fur will be bought in the meantime, and alternatives are being considered.
MQ say they only have a few items of clothing containing angora fur, but that their animal rights policy does not accept fur is ripped from the live animals. “that we now stop all our purchases of clothes with angora fur is to send the clear signal that this kind of animal fur industry has to stop,” Mq’s CEO Christina Ståhl writes in a press release.
Also H&M announced on Wednesday that the method is not in accordance with their rules. “we have done regular checks with the rabbit breeders. Now we will speed up further checks of our subcontractors in order to ensure our policy is followed,” H&M press spokesperson Camilla Emilsson Falk tells TT.
Source: Radio Sweden - TT
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