EU ban cat and dog fur

The EU have announced a ban for members to trade in cat and dog fur. The move follows a request for action from EU member states, and a campaign by Paul McCartney and his estranged wife, Heather Mills McCartney. It is estimated that two million cats and dogs are being killed in China by fur traders each year.

"The message that we have received from EU consumers has been loud and clear. They do not find it acceptable to farm cats and dogs for their fur, nor do they want products containing such fur sold on the European market," said Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, Markos Kyprianou.

The Commission says that different countries have taken different approaches to banning cat and dog fur, such as bans on rearing cats and dogs for fur, trade or import bans, and compulsory labelling. The European Parliament on Tuesday voted to ban trade in cat and dog fur in the European Union, responding to public calls to outlaw a practice many consider unethical. The ban, which has to be formally approved by EU governments, will apply from Dec. 31. 2008.