PETA Urges Retailers Not to Fall for the ‘Alpaca Standard’

For Immediate Release:
June 1, 2021

Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382

In response to the development of Textile Exchange’s disingenuously named Responsible Alpaca Standard (RAS), PETA has just sent a letter (available here) to retailers outlining the numerous ways in which the RAS fails to prevent animal suffering and urging them to ban alpaca altogether.

The RAS was created as a response to PETA’s undercover investigation that showed workers hitting, kicking, tying down, and mutilating pregnant alpacas who cried out and vomited in fear—practices that the standards will do nothing to stop. Among other shortcomings, the RAS only requires once-a-year inspections that are announced in advance, rendering them meaningless; does not address slaughterhouses; allows shearers to cut alpacas and deny them pain relief; and acknowledges that alpacas vomit and struggle during shearing.

“The RAS is simply ‘humane washing,’ and no kind shopper today wants to buy the products of animal suffering,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA hopes retailers won’t allow the industry to pull the fleece over their eyes—the only truly ‘responsible’ fibers are vegan ones.”

More information about the alpaca industry is available here and at PETA.org.