Cat & Dog Fur Trade in UK

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VICTORY OVER PET FUR TRADE Jul 17 2003

 

 

Crackdown after dealing highlighted by the Daily Record

 

Ian Smith Exclusive

 

 

 

BRITAIN is set to ban the cruel trade in dog and cat fur.

 

Trade Minister Mike O'Brien is to announce plans to outlaw imports of

any products containing pet pelts.

 

The move has been prompted by a Record investigation exposing the

shipments, which originate in the Far East.

 

After the revelations and a campaign by animal welfare groups, the

Government indicated it would bring in a labelling system to show which

animal the pelt came from.

 

But O'Brien decided the crackdown did not go far enough. He is aiming

for a full- scale ban.

 

Ministers had been reluctant to take such action because it could lead

to retaliation by the exporting countries.

 

But O'Brien believes that, if it can be proved the problem is

widespread, he will be able to introduce legislation banning the import

of any goods containing pet fur.

 

Today, he is launching a survey in co-operation with animal welfare

groups to gauge the scale of the trade.

 

A Government source said: " In order to take the considerable step of

bringing in legislation, the Minister needs to be able to demonstrate

there is a real problem.

 

" We will be asking interested parties to come forward and help to

identify hard evidence so we can then move to ban the imports.

 

" The Daily Record coverage of this showed the strength of public feeling

 

against these products being imported. "

 

In our investigation, we showed how a fur coat had been found to be made

 

from the pelts of 42 Alsatian dogs.

 

It is thought that dog and cat fur is also widely used in items,

including children's toys and hand bags.

 

Animal welfare groups believe thousands of people have unwittingly

bought such goods.

 

Millions of cats and dogs are skinned every year in the Far East, mainly

 

China, South Korea and Thailand.

 

The pelts are shipped to Europe and sold off under labels which disguise

 

their true origin.

 

Producers often used the names of made-up creatures, such as Asian

Jackal or Gaewolf, on labels.

 

The Record investigation found the trade produces an estimated two

million skins a year. Dog pelts fetch about £3 and cat skins £2.85.

 

Tory MEP Struan Stevenson, an anti-pet fur campaigner, praised the

Record campaign.

 

Italy has already banned pet fur imports.

 

Stevenson said that, with Britain following suit, an EU-wide ban could

soon be put in place.

 

He added: " The Record picked up the issue and has done a great job

bringing it to public attention. "

 

--

Dave Neale

Animals Asia Foundation

 

Find out more about the historic China Bear Rescue by visiting the

Animals Asia Foundation website at http://www.animalsasia.org