- Call for evidence launched to understand views towards the fur trade
- Public, fashion industry and businesses encouraged to contribute
- Evidence will be used to consider future government policy in relation to the fur trade
A call for evidence to hear from both industry and the public to help inform future government policy on the fur trade in Great Britain has been launched today (31 May).
Now the UK's future relationship with the EU has been established, we have a unique opportunity to look at what more can be done to strengthen our world leading standards of animal welfare.
The call for evidence has been launched jointly alongside the Scottish and Welsh governments and will ask for views surrounding animal welfare as well as the social and economic impacts associated with the trade, both on our shores and overseas.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said:
We already have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world and as an independent nation we are now able to re-examine some of our animal welfare laws, including the import of fur for use in fashion products.
The views, data and case studies we receive will be vital to helping to inform future government policy in this area including by better understanding the trade both at home and abroad.
The call for evidence concerns the commercial trade in fur only and does not focus on non-commercial, private activity such as transactions and exchanges between private individuals and would also help the Government understand the case for any potential exemptions relating to future policies in this area.
Fur farming has been banned in England and Wales since 2000 and since 2002 in Scotland. Strict rules are already in place for certain skin and fur products, including from commercial seal hunts and domestic cats and dogs, prohibiting them from being imported into the UK.
The call for evidence is part of a series of plans as outlined in the Government's Action Plan for Animal Welfare, which builds on our existing world leading standards by recognising animals as sentient in law and committing to a range of new game changing welfare measures to protect pets, livestock and wild animals.
To respond to the call for evidence, please click here.
