The proposed legislation targets sports apparel manufacturers that use leather from kangaroos to make their products.
But industry representatives in Australia say the bill is “driven by emotive misinformation,” and is lobbying the Australian embassy in the US to take up its case.
Football boots are one of the only products made from kangaroo leather that are routinely sold in Oregon. The proposed ban would impact Nike, which is based in Oregon and is the state’s largest employer.
“It’s unconscionable that millions of native wild animals in Australia have been killed for the sake of high-end soccer cleats (football boots) worn by a subset of elite soccer players,” Oregon Senator Floyd Prozanski, who introduced the bill, said.
The US Centre for a Humane Economy, Animal Wellness Action and the US Animal Wellness Foundation welcomed the move.
But the Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia (KIAA) said greater awareness about the benefits of the legal commercial harvest of kangaroos was needed.
“We believe the recent move is driven by emotive misinformation by animal activist groups targeting US politicians,” executive officer Dennis King said.
The national kangaroo population is estimated to be 40 million, but can sharply increase in good seasons.
The commercial kangaroo industry is worth more than $200 million to the Australian economy and employs more than 3000 people
King said there were benefits of managing an overabundant species, such as increased biodiversity, sustainability and waste reduction.
“The industry is extremely confident in its robust standards of excellence in animal welfare, sustainability and food safety,” he said.
“We follow the advice of government and scientists and comply with all regulations and codes. As well as being a part of our ethos, it is in our best interest to do so.”
More than 1.3 million kangaroos were killed for commercial purposes in Australia in 2021, according to data by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Australian marsupial listed as endangered
– Reported with Associated Press