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07/11/2003
O'Brien backs ban on trade in cat and dog fur
Calls from more than 100 MEPs for an EU-wide ban on trade in cat and dog fur were backed today by Trade Minister, Mike O'Brien in a written briefing to British MEPs.
The MEPs, who are urging the European Commission to bring in legislation to stop the trade, sale and production of cat and dog furs, are hoping to sign up a majority of their colleagues for a ban by the end of this year. A majority of signatures would put pressure on the Commission to seriously consider such a proposal.
Mike O'Brien said: "So far it has not been possible to prove or disprove whether domestic cat and dog fur is coming into the UK but there is evidence that a cat and dog fur industry does exist in other countries.
"These animals are often killed inhumanely and their fur used as trimmings on giftware products or for cheap clothing. We believe Europe wide action would be the most effective way of bringing this barbaric and despicable practice to an end.
"Any ban on the trade in cat and dog fur, whether taken at a national or European level, will be reliant on effective enforcement. For this reason, we are continuing to work hard to ensure that there is an effective scientific test in place which can accurately identify furs of domestic cat and dog".
The government is assisting the search for evidence and has commissioned work to determine the reliability of a testing method based on a technique known as "mass spectrometry". If found to be reliable, this test will help to identify which products available in the UK, if any, contain domestic cat and dog fur.
(gmcg)
The MEPs, who are urging the European Commission to bring in legislation to stop the trade, sale and production of cat and dog furs, are hoping to sign up a majority of their colleagues for a ban by the end of this year. A majority of signatures would put pressure on the Commission to seriously consider such a proposal.
Mike O'Brien said: "So far it has not been possible to prove or disprove whether domestic cat and dog fur is coming into the UK but there is evidence that a cat and dog fur industry does exist in other countries.
"These animals are often killed inhumanely and their fur used as trimmings on giftware products or for cheap clothing. We believe Europe wide action would be the most effective way of bringing this barbaric and despicable practice to an end.
"Any ban on the trade in cat and dog fur, whether taken at a national or European level, will be reliant on effective enforcement. For this reason, we are continuing to work hard to ensure that there is an effective scientific test in place which can accurately identify furs of domestic cat and dog".
The government is assisting the search for evidence and has commissioned work to determine the reliability of a testing method based on a technique known as "mass spectrometry". If found to be reliable, this test will help to identify which products available in the UK, if any, contain domestic cat and dog fur.
(gmcg)
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