NEW MOVE TO BAN CAT AND DOG FUR

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 9th Jun 2005

A European Commissioner has pledged to find ways to introduce EU-wide rules to prevent the importation of cat and dog fur from China.

Animal welfare organisations have condemned the lack of controls to prevent the sale of products using fur from creatures said to be kept in cruel conditions and killed brutally. The material has been found across Europe in gloves, in fur collars on fashion clothing, and in novelty items including toy cats and dogs.

Trade rules and legal restrictions are said to have prevented action being taken in the past but yesterday, EU Consumer Affairs Commissioners Marcus Kyprianou told MEPs that he wanted his advisors to find solutions not present problems.

He told a meeting of the European Parliament's animal welfare group: "If it's a matter of principle then we must find ways of putting our beliefs into practice. My legal service has twice told me that restrictions cannot be introduced but I have told them to find a way around the objections. If necessary we shall introduce new labelling requirements so that consumers can make the decisions and control the market.

The Commissioner said also that he hoped to raise standards for the transport of live farm animals and wanted to introduce animal welfare as a consideration in international trade negotiations. Mr Kyprianou accepted that the idea would face strong opposition but argued that if the European Union avoided raising the issue progress would never be made.

Sharon Bowles MEP for the South East described the Commissioner's words as very encouraging.

He said: "The 'can do' approach being taken by the new Commissioner is a real breath of fresh air after the bureaucratic objections we have had in the past. Animal welfare considerations can impose extra costs on consumers and put food producers at a competitive disadvantage, but by working together across Europe we have a real hope of curbing cruelty and raising standards all round."

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