Kangaroo Protection Act H.R.4995

Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), Blue Mountains, Australia

The Kangaroo Protection Act H.R.4995 is a proposed bill in the United States Congress that would ban the trade and sale of kangaroo body parts, including skins, in the United States. The bill was introduced in 2023 by a bipartisan group of six representatives, led by Brian Fitzpatrick and Jan Schakowsky, who are co-chairs of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus. The bill aims to end the exploitation of kangaroos, who are killed in large numbers for their skins, which are used for soccer cleats and other products.

Several animal welfare groups have campaigned against the use of kangaroo skins in the footwear industry, especially for soccer cleats. They have urged major brands such as Nike, Puma, Adidas, Mizuno and New Balance to stop using kangaroo leather and switch to synthetic or plant-based alternatives. They have also exposed the cruelty and environmental damage caused by the kangaroo trade through investigations, documentaries and lawsuits.

In 2020, California became the first state in the United States to ban the sale of kangaroo products, following a similar ban in 1971 that was repealed in 2007. In 2021, several major footwear brands, including Nike and Puma, announced plans to phase out the use of kangaroo leather by the end of the year. In 2023, a bipartisan group of six U.S. representatives introduced the Kangaroo Protection Act, which would make it illegal to import, export or sell any product made from kangaroo body parts in the United States.