SAN Francisco yesterday became the largest US city to ban the sale of fur as a way to protect animals.

The vote by the Board of Supervisors in the politically liberal California city was 10-0.

Humane Society International (HSI) hailed the vote, saying “this is an exciting and historic vote, both for animals and compassionate consumerism, and we hope that the world is watching”.

Two smaller California cities – West Hollywood and Berkeley – have already banned the sale of fur.

Bans on fur sales and imports exist in India and Brazil’s Sao Paulo, said HSI on its blog.

Two Italian fashion houses, Versace and Furla, under pressure from HSI, recently announced that they will no longer use fur, joining other designers who have made such a pledge – Armani, Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors and Gucci.

Katy Tang, the San Francisco supervisor who sponsored the fur ban bill, said each year, an estimated 50 million animals “are slaughtered in gruesome ways so that we can wear their fur and look fashionable”.

“My hope is that it will send a strong message to the rest of the world,” she said, reported the San Francisco Chronicle.

Retailers said they are worried about the ban, which will take effect on January 1 next year.

“This is big business for us in Union Square. This will seriously impact us,” said Karen Flood, executive director of the Union Square Business Improvement District. – AFP, March 21, 2018.