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TOPIC: Fur Trade Industry Issue         
             'Faux' versus Real Fur Debate 
 

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                       ~~>  The Fur Trade Issue ~~> The US fur producers are not part of the scandal
 


Comment: <<Here in the U.S., we're not part of the current scandal regarding the Raccoon Dog...>>

Fur Commission  USA's position regarding the inhumane killing of the Raccoon Dog
When the 'faux fur' mislabeling investigation became public in December 2006, the Fur Commission USA immediately went onboard with a denouncement that Raccoon Dogs are not 'really dogs', listing the final species listing of the Raccoon Dog, but not mentioning the term 'Canaidae' which is the first level of the family species chain of Canidae. Using the final species list of Nyctereutes Procyonoides and advising readers to remember that name, it clearly mislead the reader in an attempt to 'distance' itself from the controversy.
Source: Fur Commission USA

FICA (Fur Council of America) lists  17 types of fur on their website:

Beaver, Chinchilla, Coyote, Ermine, Fisher, Fox, Lamb, Lynx, Marten, Mink, Muskrat, Nutra, Opposium, Rabbit, Raccoon, Sable, Tanuki (Raccoon Dog) 
Source: About Fur

Using the species lineup of the Family "Canidae", FICA represents the following types of fur among those 17 listed on their website:

 

FAMILY CANIDAE
Subfamily: Caninae (True Dogs, Foxes and Basal Caninae)
True dogs - Tribe Canini
  Genus Canis
FICA FICA Coyote, Canis latrans (also called Prairie Wolf)
    Gray Wolf, Canis lupus
      Domestic Dog, Canis lupus familiaris
Foxes - Tribe Vulpini
FICA Genus Alopex
FICA FICA Arctic Fox, Alopex lagopus
FICA Genus Vulpes
FICA FICA Red, Silver or Cross Fox, Vulpes vulpes
FICA Genus Urocyon
FICA FICA Gray Fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Basal Caninae
FICA Genus Nyctereutes
FICA FICA Raccoon Dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides

 

Note: FICA's role (per their website):

  • The Fur Information Council of America (FICA) is the largest fur industry association representing fur retailers and manufacturers across the country who collectively account for over 80% of U.S. fur sales. FICA's 30+ member board of directors includes the CEOs of the nation's largest fur retailers, manufacturers, and auction houses, as well as wildlife management and agricultural experts.
  • There are approximately 1500 retailers and 100 manufacturers in the U.S. Most (85%) are small, family-run businesses which have been passed from generation to generation.
  • It should be noted that 85% of all U.S. fur retailers are small, independent, frequently family-owned businesses. On their own, these firms do not have the wherewithal to oppose concerted campaigns mounted by well-financed animal activists to embarrass furriers and destroy their livelihoods. FICA is there to help.
  • U.S. Retail Fur sales in 2005 were $1.82billion ($1.81 billion in 2004)
     

 

Figures are extremely hard to find, but for the year 2004, the following information was supplied by the U.S. Census Bureau:
 

U.S. - Fur & leather apparel mfg - by Employment Size of Enterprise

(Special Note: the fur industry is not separated out from the "Fur & Leather Apparel Manufacturing" category by the U.S. Census Bureau, so the table below also includes the leather trade industry)
 

Employment size of enterprise # CO Paid
employees
Annual
payroll
 
All firms (Aver. $28,053 yr) 154 1,482 41,576,000
Firms with no employees (as of March 12) 17 (11%) (1-19) D
Firms with 1 to 4 employees (Aver. $26,432) 72 (47%) 148 3,912,000
Firms with 5 to 9 employees (Aver $28,017) 25 (16%) 171 4,791,000.
Firms with 10 to 19 employees (Aver $27,700) 20 (13%) 280 7,756,000
Firms with 20 to 99 employees ($26,090) 17 (11%) 720 18,785,000
Firms with 100 to 499 employees 3 (2%) (100-249) D

D = Withheld to avoid disclosure
Table includes only establishments with payroll. 
Source: US. Bureau of Census Table


Conclusion?

The "Raccoon Dog" issue cannot simply be shoved onto "only" China's shoulders - it is an international problem and that includes the United States as well.  It is also incorrect to assume that fur products with a "made in China" label are made up of Chinese produced skins. China is the largest manufacturer of fur products and textiles made with fur in the world. But the vast majority of these products comprise European or North American skins. The Chinese import the raw material and then re-export the finished product around the world.  (Source: International Fur Trade Federation - FICA is affiliated with the Int'l Fur Trade Federation - IFTF Press Release)

If FICA and the other U.S. fur trade organizations, companies (family owned or those with 20 to 99 employees), retailers and other establishments are not involved in the controversy regarding Raccoon Dogs (Tanuki), exactly who is willing to take responsibility in this horrendous practice in the States? 

Hiding one's head in the sand or pointing fingers at others doesn't diminish the problem, but only enhances it through denial and obfiscation.

 



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