BRITAIN must introduce an immediate ban on the cruel trade in cat and dog fur, Green MEPs Caroline Lucas and Jean Lambert have demanded.
"Cats and dogs are suffering appalling cruelty to satisfy the European market for cheap fur, most of which is sold to consumers who haven't the faintest idea what they are buying," said Caroline Lucas, Green MEP for South East England and a Vice President of the European Parliament's intergroup on Animal Welfare.
"This despicable trade must be banned immediately. This fur is the product of extraordinary cruelty - in some cases the cats and dogs concerned are hanged, in some cases they are skinned alive," said Dr Lucas, who has written to the UK Government and the European Commission demanding a ban.
"This flies in the face of acceptable
animal welfare standards and must be stamped out immediately. Britain must follow
the example of Italy and introduce an immediate ban on the import, export and
sale of cat and dog
fur products."
Undercover investigators working
for the Humane Society International (HSI) revealed shocking video evidence this
week of the extent of the cat and dog fur trade in Europe. Though much cat and
dog fur is bought
unwittingly by consumers who are duped into believing the
fur is either fake or derived from rabbits, the HSI video shows traders openly
selling cat skins with paws and tails still intact.
More than two million cats and dogs a year are slaughtered by fur exporters in China alone, says the HIS. Much of this fur is destined for toys and clothes sold in European street markets.
London MEP Jean Lambert, who has written to European Commissioner David Byrne demanding a Europe-wide ban, said consumers would be shocked to realise the extent of the cat and dog fur trade.
"Fur that is the result of acts of extraordinary cruelty - in direct contravention of European animal welfare rules - is being sold to unwitting consumers who are being told lies about what they are buying," she said.
"The Government must ban this trade immediately. They have claimed such a ban could fall foul of world trade laws unless it is backed by an EU ban on the fur's trade within Europe - though this has not stopped Italy taking immediate action."
Mrs Lambert added: "I have called on the Commission to act on this and I trust it will do everything it can to uphold animal welfare legislation and show it is responsive to the overwhelming public support for a ban.
"While the British Government continues to drag its feet, the surest way to end the cruelty of dog and cat farming in Asia is to introduce a Europe-wide ban on the import and sale of these products. This will protect both animals and consumers from cruel exploitation by unscrupulous fur farmers."
ENDS
For more information please contact Ben Duncan on 020 7407 6280, 07973 823358 or press@greenmeps.org.uk