Product description states “100% striped cat hair”
Company “Factory problem”…a complete suspension of production and sales
An online women’s shopping mall in China has been embroiled in a controversy while trying to sell clothing products using cat hair. The company acknowledged that the actual cat fur and leather were used and suspended the production and sale of the product altogether.
According to China’s Sina Finance on the 12th, a consumer recently raised suspicions that cat hair was used in clothing products to be sold in online shopping malls and shared related posts and photos on social networking services (SNS).
The detailed page of the controversial product showed the fur material as “100% fox fur” and “100% striped cat (tabby) fur”. As related facts became known, consumers’ resistance and boycott movements spread.
As the controversy grew, the shopping mall issued an official apology and said it confirmed that cat fur and leather were used in the product as a result of its own ingredient test.
However, the company explained, “It is a problem that occurred in the process of customizing (OEM) at a partner factory, and we have never asked or approved the use of cat hair from the factory at the brand level.”
According to the company, the product was originally scheduled to go on sale on the 11th. However, a day earlier, on the 10th, the inspection agency informed that some products did not meet the brand’s material procurement standards due to the use of cat hair.
The company explained, “In the process of registering product information, the controversy grew by posting materials and process notices with unclear sources in advance on detailed pages without final confirmation by the staff in charge.”
As soon as the brand became aware of the controversy, it deleted the link to the sale of the related product and stopped the production and sale of the product altogether. He also said he would deliver donations to organic animal rescue organizations and continue to support animal rescue activities.
In the region, legal issues are also being raised regarding the distribution process of related products. Under current Chinese law, there are no regulations directly prohibiting the production of clothing with the fur of cats or dogs that are pets, said Lin Xiaoming, a lawyer at Sichuan Yixiang Law Office.
He explains that if they do not undergo quarantine, the authorities can impose fines equivalent to the price of the goods.
In addition, major e-commerce platforms designate products using dog and cat fur as prohibited items. In addition, major e-commerce platforms designate dog and cat fur products as prohibited items in consideration of social conventional wisdom, lawyer Lin said. “If you violate this, you will be subject to sanctions such as suspension of product display, confiscation of deposits, store closure and business suspension.”
