Lawmakers vote down bill that would have allowed sale of kangaroo skins and meat products.
SYDNEY (April 22, 2026)—Humane World for Animals applauds a Californian legislative committee for rejecting a bill that would have reopened the state to the commercial trade in kangaroo products.
The California Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee voted down SB 1212, which sought to remove kangaroos from the state's longstanding wildlife trade protections. If passed, the bill would have created a pathway for kangaroo skins and meat products to re-enter one of the world's largest consumer markets.
California first prohibited the commercial trade in kangaroo products in 1971, and lawmakers also rejected a similar attempt to overturn the ban in 2015.
Jenny Berg, California State Director for Humane World for Animals, said the outcome reflects strong public opposition to the trade.
"Today is a victory for kangaroos. Our state chose to protect this important, iconic species over participating in cruelty," Berg said.
"Californians don't want to buy leather made from kangaroo skin or pet food made from kangaroo meat—items tied to the world's largest land-based commercial slaughter of wildlife."
Dr Renae Charalambous, Wildlife Policy Program Manager at Humane World for Animals Australia, said the decision sends a clear signal internationally.
"This is a strong and welcome outcome. Kangaroos are wild, sentient animals—not a commodity—and this decision recognises the serious welfare concerns associated with the commercial industry," Dr Charalambous said.
"Each year, well over a million adult kangaroos are killed, alongside hundreds of thousands of dependent joeys, with no independent monitoring at the point of kill and limited enforcement."
"By rejecting this bill, California has chosen not to support a market built on these outcomes. It reflects growing global concern about the commercial killing of wildlife and reinforces the importance of strong protections."
This decision strengthens California's longstanding position on wildlife trade and signals continued international scrutiny of Australia's commercial kangaroo industry.
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Together, we tackle the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering to create permanent change. With millions of supporters and work happening in over 50 countries, Humane World for Animals—formerly called Humane Society International—addresses the most deeply entrenched forms of animal cruelty and suffering. As the leading voice in the animal protection space, we work to end the cruelest practices, care for animals in crisis and build a stronger animal protection movement. Driving toward the greatest global impact, we aim to achieve the vision behind our name: a more humane world. humaneworld.org
