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STRASBOURG, France - Trading in cat and dog fur may be banned in the European Union from the end of 2008 after a vote at the European parliament today.
The European Commission, the EU executive, first proposed an EU-wide ban last year, citing evidence cat and dog fur was being placed on the European market, often disguised as synthetic fur.
Today's parliamentary vote paves the way for the proposal to be sent to EU farm ministers for approval.
If all goes smoothly, the EU will ban the import, export and sale of cat and dog fur, and any products produced from or containing this fur, from Dec. 31, 2008. Several EU governments have already prohibited such trading for years.
"For years citizens have demanded EU action to ensure that animals we regard as pets are protected from this appalling practice," EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said.
"We will now be able to take efficient measures to reassure European consumers that they will not be at risk of inadvertently buying cat and dog fur anywhere in the EU."
Animal rights groups say around 2 million cats and dogs are killed in Asia each year, especially in China, for their fur which is imported into Europe under false labels.
A handful of EU countries such as Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece and Italy block these imports, and Sweden has for years sought an EU ban. Other countries have less strict laws, like a ban on rearing cats and dogs for producing fur.
Several countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United States, have already banned the import or sale of cat and dog fur on their markets.
The MEPs voted to scrap an exemption in the draft law that would have allowed trade in fur from cats and dogs if they were not bred or killed for fur production.
- REUTERS
