World

Europe bans trade in dog and cat furs

by mudricky | January 1, 2009 at 05:10 am

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A Scottish MEP (member of the European Parliament) has played a large part in helping to have cat and dog fur banned in Europe.

The ban on the trade came into effect in all 27 EU members states at midnight on 1st January.

It has been claimed that more than two million cats and dogs are killed for their skins in China every year, many shoppers in Europe buy goods made with the fur unknowingly, as exporters attach false labels.

MEP Struan Stevenson started his high-profile campaign against the trade in 1999 with the support of Humane Society International.

The trade in cat and dog fur across Europe has been outlawed following a nine-year campaign by a Scottish MEP.

Tory MEP Struan Stevenson said he hoped the total ban on fur imports would put pressure on China to curb its slaughter of millions of cats and dogs.

Mr Stevenson, who started his high-profile campaign against the trade in 1999 with the support of Humane Society International, said the furs were even used to make cat and dog toys which parents bought for their children, not realising that real cats and dogs have been killed and skinned to make the products.