McCartney attacks China over fur

By Adrian Addison
BBC Six O'clock News

Sir Paul McCartney has vowed never to perform in China after seeing horrific undercover footage of dogs and cats being killed for their fur.

The former Beatle also said he would boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympics after viewing the footage taken in a fur market in Guangzhou, southern China.

The film shows animals being thrown from a bus, and into boiling water.

A Chinese official said boycotts were not justified, and blamed US and European consumers for buying the fur.

In the film, dogs and cats packed by the dozen into wire cages little bigger than lobster pots are pictured being thrown from the top deck of a converted bus onto concrete pavements.

The screaming animals, many with their paws now smashed from the fall, are then lifted out with long metal tongs and thrown over a seven foot fence.

They are then killed and skinned for their fur.

Animal welfare group Peta believes many of them are still alive as their skins are peeled away.

Sir Paul, and his wife Heather, looked aghast and close to tears as they watched the footage for a special report for the BBC's Six O'clock News to be screened on Monday.

They urged people not to buy Chinese goods.

"This is barbaric. Horrific," said Sir Paul.

"It's like something out of the dark ages. And they seem to get a kick out it. They're just sick, sick people.

"I wouldn't even dream of going over there to play, in the same way I wouldn't go to a country that supported apartheid. This is just disgusting. It's just against every rule of humanity. I couldn't go there."

In another piece of the harrowing footage, shot this summer by an undercover investigator connected to the People for the Ethical treatment of Animals (Peta) campaign group, cats are seen squirming inside a sack which is then thrown into a vat of steaming water.

They are boiled to death and skinned by a fleecing machine similar to a launderette tumble drier.

Some of the 28-minute footage is too gruesome to be broadcast.

Campaigners estimate that over two million dogs and cats are killed for their fur in China every year. China also farms animals such as mink for their fur and makes over half of the world's fur products.

McCartney added: "How can the host nation of the Olympics be seen allowing animals to be treated in this terrible way?"

Heather McCartney, herself a vociferous animal rights campaigner added: "I've seen so much footage where these poor creatures are clearly alive when they're skinned. And for what? For fashion? It's sick.

"People in every other country in the world should now boycott Chinese goods." "If they want to consider themselves a civilized nation," said Sir Paul, "they're going to have to stop this."

A spokesman for the Chinese Ambassador in London told the BBC: "Though cats and dogs are not endangered, we do not encourage the ill treatment of cats and dogs.

"But, anyway, the fur trade mostly feeds markets in the US and Europe. Most of this fur is not for the Chinese market. So the Americans and Europeans should accept the blame.

"We have no plans to clamp down on this internally that I am aware of - it is for the US and Europeans to take their own action. They should boycott fur as a fashion material.

"I do not agree with Mr McCartney and his wife's point of view - a boycott of Chinese goods and the Olympics is simply not justifiable."

It is not currently illegal to trade in dog and cat fur in the UK and most of Europe.

Ethical abhorrence

But the UK government sees any legislation as being a European issue - as once the fur enters Europe from China, free trade and the difficulty of identifying the fur makes it almost impossible to police.

A DTI spokesman told the BBC: "The government shares the ethical abhorrence felt by many. That is why it banned by statute fur farming in the UK in 2000.

"Action is best taken at the EU level as a harmonised approach throughout the EU would have greater impact and avoid obstacles to the operation of the single market."

There is little evidence, as yet, of the fur products being sold in the UK. Campaigners insist they are available up and down the country, but it is impossible to tell the difference from other fur without the aid of expensive genetic tests.

The British Fur Trade Association, which represents the booming fur industry in the UK, insists that its members do not knowingly use dog and cat fur and have introduced a fur labelling system to try to guard against its use.

"As an industry, we are against any form of animal cruelty," said a spokeswoman.

"We deplore and work against the mistreatment of animals. For this reason, we also actively support and encourage the adoption of Western fur farming practices on Chinese fur farms."

Ruse accusation

But pro-fur campaigner Richard D North says a European ban is heavy handed.

"This is a ruse by campaigners to attack the legitimate fur trade. Nobody has ever found a large amount of cat and dog fur in the UK.

"The European fur industry would never use it. Why bother, when there are lovely skins from properly farmed animals?"

Euro MP Struan Stevenson has an array of cat and dog products in his Brussels office - including a coat made from Alsatian skin, a pelt made from four golden retrievers and a blanket made from around 70 cats. All were bought in Europe.

"It's cheaper to make these things from cat and dog than it is to make synthetic fur," he told the BBC.

"It really is time for this trade to be banned and the EU border to be sealed against it. And the new trade commissioner is more than sympathetic."

Markos Kyprianou, EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, is responsible for this area of EU law.

His spokesman, Phillip Todd, told the BBC: "As a human being, the commissioner abhors this trade and is very supportive of there being a ban. There are, however, legal obstacles which would need to be addressed before a ban could be put in place." 

---

How UK is centre for £7million trade in cat and dog fur

By Isabel Oakeshott, Evening Standard Political Correspondent 31 August 2004

Cat and dog fur is being shipped into Britain on a record scale, it is revealed today. Figures obtained by the Evening Standard show a huge surge in imports of the pelts for sale to the fashion industry. Traders from Europe and the Far East ferried up to £7million worth into Britain last year.

London has become a major international trading centre for the furs, following bans in other countries.

The scale of the business emerged in Customs and Excise records released to an MP. The statistics are normally available only to those who pay a subscription to access an obscure government website.

More than £40million of fur-related items poured into Britain last year - almost double the amount of five years ago. Imports of clothes and fashion accessories made with real fur have tripled from £4 million to about £12million in the past decade.

As well as fur clothes, more than £6million of "raw" animal fur, and
£22million of tanned or "dressed" fur, from 12 named species and "other animals", was shipped into Britain last year.

Most of the pelts were from minks, foxes, or rabbits - although more unusual species, such as sea otters, sea lions and beavers are also involved.

However, £1 million worth of fur came from "wild felines" - while 5.9 million fell into the " other " category. Experts say the majority of this is from domestic cats and dogs, since the 12 named categories cover almost everything else.

Andrew Butler, of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said: "These figures are shocking. There is a huge international trade in cat and dog fur, much of it coming from backyard suppliers in the Far East who are totally unregulated.

"The cruelty is massive. Many animals are taken from the streets and butchered using appallingly inhumane methods."

Although America, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Greece and Australia have banned all cat and dog fur imports, there are no such restrictions in Britain.

The majority of cat and dog fur arriving here comes from China, where two million animals a year are slaughtered for the trade.

MEP Struan Stevenson, who has campaigned for an EU-wide ban, said: "As dealers are forced out of other countries, they are coming here. The only way to stop this evil trade is to ban it throughout the EU."

Most of the pelts are only in Britain temporarily and then shipped to other countries. Although some cats and dogs are from fur farms, bred for their pelts, many are strays.

Undercover investigators from animal rights organisations have filmed backstreet operators in China and the Philippines rounding up cats, cramming them into tiny cages, and killing them using barbaric methods.

The figures - released at the request of Labour MP Lynne Jones - show the fur trade has undergone a dramatic revival. After a slump, which saw the overall value of fur imports to Britain drop to little over 26million in 1999, imports climbed to £40.8million worth last year.

While the majority of British designers and models shunned real fur in the Nineties, many now appear to regard it as acceptable.

Last week, it emerged that Cindy Crawford - who once posed for the "I'd rather go naked than wear fur" campaign - has become a model for mink coat firm Blackglama.

Paul Littlefair of the RSPCA said: "We are very disturbed to see a general increase in the reappearance of all types of fur.

"This trend has created a market for whole garments as well as fur trim, toys and other novelties. Countries in east Asia have only recently begun producing dog and cat fur to meet demand.

"Most animals reared for fur in China and elsewhere are kept in extremely poor accommodation, and generally not slaughtered humanely."

The Department of Trade and Industry has not ruled out banning imports of fur from domestic cats and dogs, but fears new laws would be very difficult to enforce.

A DTI spokesman said: "It is almost impossible to tell whether the fur comes from wild or domestic animals. Often the only way to be sure is DNA testing. We would like to see more hard evidence from animal rights groups."

---

Fresh Calls For Ban On Pet Fur Trade

EURO MP Struan Stevenson has renewed calls for the European Commission to ban the sale of cat and dog fur in light of a ruling in Australia where the government has outlawed the trade. During a visit to Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home yesterday, Mr Stevenson said that with Australia and the United States no longer accepting fur, Europe will be targeted. He said: "Despite parliamentary process and securing the support of the majority of the European Parliament, the Brussels bureaucrats still flaunt the rules by refusing to bring in to force legislation outlawing this barbaric practice." He added: "It pains me to think of the millions of domestic animals who are reared, rounded up and then mercilessly and brutally butchered purely for their skins. "Other parts of the world are making a stance and banning cat and dog skins from their markets. I am urging the European Commission to do likewise and bring an immediate halt to the unnecessary suffering of the animals we refer to as pets."   Source: http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=604352004

Australia Bans Import Of Cat & Dog Fur Products

The Australian government announced on Friday (21st May), it is moving immediately to ban any imports made from dog or cat fur following protests from animal rights groups and thousands of individuals.

The Minister for Justice and Customs Chris Ellison said the government would amend existing customs to effect the ban which will include clothing and footwear, gloves, hats, toys or any other items made from the fur of dogs and cats.

"Other countries such as the United States and Italy already have legislation in place to stop the trade in cat and dog fur products," Ellison said in a statement.

"I am delighted that Australia will now join these countries in cracking down on this unacceptable trade."

He said the government had received more than 9,000 representations from a broad section of the community supporting such a ban - "the largest volume of correspondence I have received on a single issue in almost four years as minister."

"This concern has led directly to the government working closely with key groups to ensure the ban is effective and comprehensive as possible," Ellison added.

"Many Australian families have cats and dogs as family pets, and the government has listened to the many representations made on this issue and taken action to ensure that Australia makes no contribution to this disturbing trade in the fur of domestic companion animals."

The Labor opposition has already announced plans to ban the import of dog and cat fur products if it is successful in the upcoming Australian elections.

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/

---

Dog and cat fur trade threatens health: lab tests

PETER CAVE: The trade in dog and cat fur has been condemned by

conservationists worldwide. But it appears that efforts to ban the trade

are yet to succeed.

As a result, animal rights groups have called in the scientific experts.

They've commissioned a series of tests by an independent laboratory to

examine how safe the fur is, and the results reveal the tanning of these

cat and dog fur products pose newfound dangers.

Full story: 

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2003/s967844.htm Transcript. ABC, 15 October 2003 [Also available in streaming audio].

---

Belfast Telegraph

Fur flies over figures made with real hair

By Noel McAdam, Political Correspondent
 

29 January 2004

A NORTHERN Ireland MEP has appealed to Ulster people to stop buying cat and dog figures made with real animal hair.

Jim Nicholson said the cute little furry cat and dog figurines available in gift shops across the UK "are not so cute when you find out that they are actually made from dog and cat fur."

The Ulster Unionist is among 346 MEPs urging an EU wide ban on the "vile trade that sees up to two million cats and dogs being killed in China to fuel demand, mainly from the EU, not just for these kitschy figurines but also for fur rugs and coats," he said.

MEPs have already tabled a written declaration from the European Parliament calling on the European Commission to impose an EU-wide ban but so far the Commission has said the sale of dog and cat fur in Europe is not its responsibility.

Mr Nicholson said: "DNA tests have shown that some rugs, coats and figurines are made from real cat and dog fur.

"To the vast majority of people this is nauseating and barbaric but unfortunately most are unaware of what exactly they are buying. "Only last month laboratory tests revealed that confirmed dog fur items - two cats in a basket and a fury mouse toy - contained up to six times the permitted EU chromium levels.

"This chromium, absorbed during the tanning process in China, is potentially toxic to children." Mr Nicholson said tens of thousands of citizens across the European union have already demanded action and the majority of EU Ministers of Agriculture have asked for a ban.

"But so far the European Commission has just ignored the calls. It must now listen, stop making lame excuses and bring in legislation to ban this vile trade across the EU."

---

Aberdeen Independent  

By Donna Morrison: October 2003   

CAMPAIGNER 

A NORTH-east woman’s tireless campaigning efforts on behalf of animal rights will be highlighted at the European Parliament in Strasbourg this week.

Animal rights campaigner Sandra Edwards was keen to ensure that the petition landed on the correct desk in the European Commission, so she contacted MEP Ian Hudghton’s office.
She discovered that the MEP was due to fly to Strasbourg via Aberdeen on Monday, and the two arranged to meet so that Mrs Edwards could pass the 500-page document to Mr Hudghton for safe-keeping during the journey. The MEP will hand-deliver the petition to European Internal Market Commissioner, Frits Bolkestein during the week’s session in Strasbourg. Sandra has put a lot of time and effort into collecting signatures from people across the UK over the last six months on behalf of animal rights campaign group Voice 4 Dogs. Public anger and revulsion about trade in cat and dog fur has intensified across the EU since it became public knowledge last year.

An on-line petition, available at www.voice4dogs.org, has generated over 6,000 signatures from across Europe in addition to Sandra’s 8,500 hand-written petition. She said: “When I first heard about this evil trade, I felt compelled to do something about it so I decided to raise public awareness through the Voice 4 Dogs Petition. “Although at first it seemed that very few people knew anything about this, as soon as they heard the facts, they were queuing up to sign and the campaign has grown from strength to strength.” 

Anyone wishing to express their anger about the trade in dog and cat fur, or who wishes to add their support for the campaign, should contact info.voice4dogs@virgin.net Alternatively they can write direct to Commissioner Frits Bolkestein, European Commission, 100 Rue de la Loi, B-1049, Brussels, Belgium.

Voice 4 Dogs founder Sandra Edwards with the petition as Ian Hudghton looks on.

---

VICTORY OVER PET FUR TRADE  

Jul 17 2003

Crackdown after dealing highlighted by the Daily Record.  

Ian Smith Exclusive

BRITAIN is set to ban the cruel trade in dog and cat fur.

Trade Minister Mike O'Brien is to announce plans to outlaw imports of any products containing pet pelts. The move has been prompted by a Record investigation exposing the shipments, which originate in the Far East. After the revelations and a campaign by animal welfare groups, the Government indicated it would bring in a labelling system to show which animal the pelt came from.

But O'Brien decided the crackdown did not go far enough. He is aiming for a full- scale ban.

Ministers had been reluctant to take such action because it could lead to retaliation by the exporting countries.

But O'Brien believes that, if it can be proved the problem is widespread, he will be able to introduce legislation banning the import of any goods containing pet fur. Today, he is launching a survey in co-operation with animal welfare groups to gauge the scale of the trade.

A Government source said: "In order to take the considerable step of bringing in legislation, the Minister needs to be able to demonstrate there is a real problem. "We will be asking interested parties to come forward and help to identify hard evidence so we can then move to ban the imports.

"The Daily Record coverage of this showed the strength of public feeling against these products being imported." In our investigation, we showed how a fur coat had been found to be made from the pelts of 42 Alsatian dogs. It is thought that dog and cat fur is also widely used in items, including children's toys and hand bags. Animal welfare groups believe thousands of people have unwittingly bought such goods.

The Record investigation found the trade produces an estimated two million skins a year. Dog pelts fetch about £3 and cat skins £2.85. Tory MEP Struan Stevenson, an anti-pet fur campaigner, praised the Record campaign. 

Italy has already banned pet fur imports. Stevenson said that, with Britain following suit, an EU-wide ban could soon be put in place. He added: "The Record picked up the issue and has done a great job bringing it to public attention."

FUR TRADE PROTEST AT CRUFTS

VOICE 4 Dogs, the group protesting against the dog and cat fur trade, set up a protest stand outside the NEC at Crufts this year.

Source: The Dog World Ltd