July 22, 2005
By Sarah Mesa
After years of claiming its hands were tied to institute a ban on dog and cat fur, the European Union is now seriously considering such a prohibition.
In June, EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markus Kyprianou told the Animal Welfare Intergroup, "I plan to deal with this problem because there is political will to do so. There are legal problems (to such a ban), but I've asked my team to find solutions."
If it implements a ban, the EU would join the United States, Australia, and some forward-thinking members of the EU that have already banned the import and sale of dog and cat fur skins, which mostly come from Asian producers. HSUS and HSI investigators have extensively documented the Asian dog and cat fur trade, showing that more than two million companion animals are killed annually for foreign markets, including those in Europe and Russia.
Kyprianou’s June announcement signaled a change of attitude for the EU on a dog and cat fur ban, which has been stalled for years because Consumer Affairs Commissioner David Byrne had claimed the European Union had no legal authority to act on this matter. In 2004, at the request of HSI’s European office, internationally recognized British barrister Philippe Sands and fellow EU legal specialist Kate Cook issued a legal opinion that refuted Byrne's position. Sands and Cook noted that two articles under the European Community's treaty would justify a ban in the production and sale of dog and cat fur across the EU.
Kyprianou and his staff would now appear to be sorting out all the legal issues allegedly blocking implementation of an EU-wide ban on dog and cat fur. This course of action is encouraging to some members of the European Parliament, including Phillip Whitehead, chairman of Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, and British MEP Struan Stevenson.
"I told Commissioner Kyprianou that he will be the most popular politician in Europe if he introduces a ban on this horrific trade," Stevenson noted after the announcement. "There are more than 300 million pet owners in the EU who will applaud his initiative. Since the U.S. (and) Australia...banned the import and trade in cat and dog fur, Europe has become a dumping ground."
Stevenson has been the unquestionable leader in the European Union on introducing a dog and cat fur ban. He has worked closely with HSI over the past six years to gather support for the issue. Stevenson and other MEPs have recognized the importance of Europeans to protect cats and dogs from dying for fur products such as full-length coats, linings in boots and gloves, cat figurines, and hair bows, among other things. In December 2003, the European Parliament, with a strong majority, adopted a Written Declaration pressuring the European Commission to ban the import, export, sale and production of cat and dog fur in Europe.
"It is the duty of all cat and dog lovers to do everything possible to support Commissioner Kyprianou in his courageous quest to introduce an EU-wide ban," Stevenson said.
Some European countries aren't waiting around for such a ban. EU members Belgium, Italy, France, Greece, and Denmark have already adopted dog and cat fur prohibitions. Switzerland, which is not a member of the EU, was the latest European country to institute a ban.
Even celebrities have joined the fight. In March, Heather Mills McCartney, activist, businesswoman, and wife of former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney, as well as rock star Rick Wakeman, the longtime keyboardist with Yes, joined HSI for a press conference in Brussels to pressure the EU into action. Mills McCartney has also posted a petition on her web site, which more than 73,000 people have signed to date.
Where It All Started
A 1998 undercover investigation by HSI and HSUS first revealed the deplorable conditions on Chinese fur farms, which slaughter an estimated two million dogs and cats annually. Investigators followed the skins of these animals to France, Germany, and other locations worldwide. DNA tests showed that garment trim, trinkets, and even children’s toys were made from dog and cat fur. The investigation led to bans of dog and cat fur in nations across the globe. The U.S. Congress passed the Dog and Cat Protection Act in 2000.
With bans in place in the United States and Australia, the dog and cat fur trade in China now relies on the exportation of pelts to European countries. A European ban on this trade would be a serious blow to the Chinese fur merchants and middlemen.
The failure to date to implement such a ban has left consumers in many European countries oblivious to the fact that they may be purchasing items made with the skin and fur of domestic dogs and cats. Even the most well-intentioned consumer may mistakenly buy items with dog or cat fur because manufacturers go to great lengths to camouflage their wares. Products with dog and cat fur, usually used in lower-end items, can still find their way into the hands of consumers. Coats, gloves, toys, and other items are rarely labeled, and when they are, the labels are often deceiving.
According to HSUS investigators, fur manufacturers in China said they would sew any label onto dog and cat fur products to make the items more marketable. DNA test have revealed fur products sold as gae-wolf, goupee, Asian wolf, China wolf, Mongolia dog, Sobaki, Pommern wolf, dogue de Chine, and loup d’Asie are actually made from the fur of domestic dogs. Cat fur has sold under pseudonyms like rabbit, maopee, goyangi, katzenfelle, natuerliches mittel, chat de Chine, and gatto cinesi. In addition to using bogus labels, Asian dealers have been known to dye animal fur so it resembles faux fur.
What You Can Do
The obvious first step is never to buy fur, no matter what country you may find yourself in. But you can take other actions to help stop the cruel trade in dog and cat fur. Read our Dog and Cat Fur Action Guide for more tips.
Sarah Mesa is the Web Content Manager for Humane Society International.
