Animal Welfare: Fur Imports

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made an assessment of the extent to which the European Commission's proposal to ban the commercial importation of the fur of companion pets sets a precedent in the use of trade measures to protect animal welfare. [HL3288]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Truscott)
The Government examined the case on cat and dog fur and concluded that the way in which these animals were treated to obtain their fur was unacceptable. We successfully called for EU-wide action as this will be more effective than national legislation.

The UK strongly supported the European Commission's animal welfare action plan published in 2006. The ban on the import, export and sale of cat and dog fur was one of the first measures announced under it. We are currently working to ensure that the proposed legislation will be effective in line with the Government's Better Regulation Agenda.

Within the WTO DDA agricultural negotiations, “non-trade concerns” are recognised. This could include animal welfare provisions, but there has as yet been little discussion on this. However, the UK continues to work on this issue in other fora. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) that has traditionally set guidelines on animal health has agreed its first ever codes on animal welfare.