MP Welcomes Government Action on Cat and Dog Fur

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Jul 2003

Local Lib Dem MP for Mid Dorset, Annette Brooke, welcomed the government's recent statement promising action to finally ban the import of cat and dog fur into this country.

One of the government's 45 written statements issued on Parliament's last day outlined the progress being made to halt this abhorrent practice. The Department for Trade and Industry will spend six months investigating the extent of the problem and will continue to research methods of testing types of fur with a view to banning the import of cat and dog fur in the future.

As a result of parliamentary questions tabled by Annette Brooke earlier this year, it became apparent that no government department was taking responsibility for addressing the problem of trade in cat and dog fur, indeed it was unclear which department was accountable for this problem.

Commenting on this announcement from the Department of Trade and Industry, Mrs. Brooke said:

"It is a relief that the government is finally taking this issue seriously and will address the deplorable practice of importing cat and dog fur into this country. I have received numerous letters from people concerned that the lack of legislation in this area could lead to mislabelling of fur goods."

"The USA introduced a ban on such products in 2000, so this practice could soon be stopped in Britain and across Europe. Unfortunately, it is likely that the closed US markets has simply increased the trade in this country."

"I will continue to table parliamentary questions in the next session of parliament to ensure that the government's timetable for researching the extent of the problem, and supporting a ban does not slip."