EU to ban cat and dog fur trade

[4me2]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=629 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>EU to ban cat and dog fur trade

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=416><!-- S BO --><!-- S IIMA --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=203 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD> Traders kill the animals with knives and nooses (Pictures: Animals Asia Foundation)

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IIMA --><!-- S SF -->The European Parliament has backed a ban on cat and dog fur imports, in a move to curb the slaughter of millions of cats and dogs in China.
MEPs say shoppers buy goods made with the fur unknowingly, because exporters attach false labels.
It is used in coats, linings for boots and gloves, stuffed toys, and even homeopathic aids for arthritis.
MEPs have agreed with EU member states on the text of the law, which will come into effect from 31 December 2008. <!-- E SF -->
<!-- S IBOX --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=208 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=5></TD><TD class=sibtbg>CAT AND DOG FUR TRADE
Up to 10 adult dogs needed to make fur coat
Up to 24 cats needed for cat fur coat
Cat and dog fur also used in hats, gloves, shoes, blankets, stuffed animals and toys
Dog fur labelled as: Gae-wolf, sobaki, Asian jackal, goupee, loup d'Asie, Corsac fox, dogues du Chine, fake or exotic fur
Cat fur labelled as: house cat, wild cat, katzenfelle, rabbit, goyangi, mountain cat

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IBOX -->

The rules exempt fur sold under strict conditions for educational purposes or for taxidermy.
"Many people are unwittingly deceived into buying garments made out of cat and dog fur due to mislabelling. This law will put an end to these deceptive practices," said Labour MEP Arlene McCarthy.
Conservative MEP Struan Stevenson, said: "Slaughter of these animals is horrific, with cats strangled outside their cages as other cats look on.
"Dogs noosed with metal wires are slashed across the groin until they bleed to death as the wire noose cuts into their throat."
DNA tests
Ministers from the EU member states will need to give the ban their approval, but are not expected to reject it, following an informal agreement with the parliament on the text.
<!-- S IBOX --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=208 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=5></TD><TD class=sibtbg>
Is farming cats and dogs for their skin or fur worse than using any other animal?


BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell



<!-- S ILIN -->Read Mark's thoughts in full
<!-- E ILIN -->
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IBOX -->
Liberal MEP Liz Lynne said a Europe-wide ban would add weight to bans already in force in several EU member states and the United States.
The legislation was initiated by the European Parliament, more than half of whose members signed a written declaration supporting a ban in December 2003.
The European Commission then drafted a regulation in 2006.
It aims to:

• Block cat and dog fur imports at the border
• Introduce penalties for traders
• Encourage sharing of information on how to detect cat and dog fur

<!-- S IIMA --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=203 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD> Campaigners say hundreds of thousands of animals can be saved

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IIMA -->The Commission says the obligation on member states to carry out checks and test for the fur will also provide a clearer picture of what products it is being used in, and where it comes from.
As cat and dog fur can be hard to detect when it is dyed, some states are already using hi-tech systems - mass spectrometry or DNA testing - to identify it.
Europe and Russia are reported to be the main markets for the cats and dogs killed in China and some other Asian countries. David Neale, UK director of Animals Asia Foundation, said the ban would stop hundreds of thousands if not millions of animals from being killed. <!-- E BO -->
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6765653.stm


Good job they didnt ban the meat otherwise many Takeaways would have been forced into liquidation.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[lady_linda]

how cruel ,i dont know just how anyone could do that,its bloody creul.i wouldnt harm a fly.the people who are doing this to those poor defenceless animals ought to have the same doen to them THEY ARE CRUEL AND IT SHOULD STOP

[super mike]

the people who are doing this to those poor defenceless animals ought to have the same doen to them

I doubt it would be quite so warm personally.