Your Say

21/11/2006

Chinese dog and cat fur trade will be banned by EU

Conservative MEPs have succeeded in persuading the EU to ban the trade in dog and cat fur.
Jonathan Evans, Conservative MEP for Wales, who has long opposed this cruel trade, today hailed the European Commission's publication of a draft directive banning the import and export of cat and dog fur in the EU, describing the news as a victory for the public.

Mr Evans has campaigned against the cruel rearing and slaughter of cats and dogs in Asia solely for their fur and skins. The campaign to bring this barbaric practice to light has resulted in Commissioner Kyprianou's announcement today.

It is estimated that more than two million animals are used in the trade to supply Europe and Russia. The furs and skins are made into coats, fur trim for gloves, boots and clothing.
Mr Evans said:

"This is truly fantastic news. As a nation of cat and dog lovers, it was impossible to understand how anyone could treat these animals in such a barbaric way. I have seen evidence to show that Chinese butchers often skin these animals alive in their hurry to cash in on this lucrative trade.

"This shows that where there is a will to effect change, coupled with strong support for a shift in the law, the Commission is prepared to listen to a well presented case.

“I am extremely grateful to Commissioner Kyprianou and to the support that has been shown to our campaign from celebrities on both sides of the Atlantic, including Rick Wakeman and Heather Mills-McCartney, as well as the tens of thousands of ordinary people who were horrified by what was going on in the name of trade and joined our crusade."

Note to Editors:
1. In 2003 a HSI video uncovered evidence showing that the trade in cat skins is operating underground in Belgium. Dangerous toxic levels of chromium contained within novelty cat figurines and toys were also unearthed.
2. In December 2003, 346 MEPs backed the Conservatives’ Declaration in the European Parliament supporting a ban. The leader of the European Parliament then instructed the Commission to draft legislation outlawing the practice, to reflect the will of the Parliament. This was only the 6th time in its history that the European Parliament has obtained a majority of MEPs' signatures on a Declaration.
3. In May 2004 Conservatives presented the European Commission with a copy of a legal opinion by Matrix Chambers, London, experts in EU and international law on behalf of the Humane Society International and Respect for Animals, which suggested that the Commission did have the necessary power to propose an EU-wide ban.
4. In March 2005 Heather Mills-McCartney, landmine activist and charity campaigner, and Rick Wakeman, lead musician for the rock group "Yes" attended a press conference in the European Parliament in Brussels to voice their support for a ban across the European Union of cat and dog fur. Both have campaigned vigorously for an EU-wide ban. Heather Mills-McCartney has run an international petition on her website which has attracted almost 250,000 signatures.
5. In June 2005, the European Commissioner for Consumer Affairs, Markus Kyprianou, announced that he intended to ban the import, export and trade in cat and dog fur in the EU and appealed for further evidence to support a ban.
7. There is no cultural aspect to this trade and consumers are often duped into what they are buying as merchants make up names for the labelling or dye the fur to make it look like faux-fur.

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