West Midlands Euro-MP calls for ban on cat and dog fur

9.10.02am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 9th May 2003

Liz wants the UK and the rest of the EU to ban products made from dog and cat fur.

West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne is stepping up her campaign to ban the use of cat and dog fur in products sold in the EU after reports that the skinning of animals is going on in EU countries, although a bigger problem lies in the import of such products from Asia.

Liz commented:

"MEPs from all political parties have long been demanding that the EU Commission draft legislation on the banning of cat and dog fur products. They claim this is impossible because the EU is unable to legislate on ethical grounds – yet just two months ago we agreed a directive that banned animal testing on cosmetic products. A precedent has been set."

"Even if such a ban would not be legal, we would be entitled to insist on clear labelling of such products and allow consumers to make their own choice. Currently cat and dog fur is either not labelled at all, or passed off as being something else entirely – even fake fur. I suspect that no one would knowingly choose to buy a product made from a cat or a dog, but they are currently being defrauded."

"Italy is the only European country to ban the sale of cat and dog fur. I hope the UK and other Member States will now follow their lead, even if the EU Commission won't."

The United States of America introduced a ban on cat and dog fur products in 2000.