Tuesday, 21st October 2008
Ban on pet fur trade
Dear Sirs,
I was very disappointed to read in your paper last Sunday (17th August) that supermarket giant Asda had been selling a toy for cats that was made out of real fur. I have campaigned for many years to put a stop to the trade of real animal fur items that involve the killing of animals, often including cats and dogs, simply to produce items for decoration or pleasure. It is a barbaric practice which causes immense suffering to animals such as cats and dogs, which in China are stabbed, beaten and bled before often being skinned alive for their pelts.
I, for one, am very happy that my campaign to introduce an EU wide ban on this evil trade ended in victory. A complete ban on the import, export and trade in cat & dog fur will be introduced across all 27 Member States as of 1st January next year. Meanwhile I would caution the public against buying any of these furry toys from Asda or any other shop. Often they have been made from cat & dog fur.
Yours sincerely
Struan Stevenson MEP
