Import of products made from cat and dog skin
7.5.2009
WRITTEN QUESTION E-3661/09
by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE)
to the Commission
The import of cat and dog skin and fur into the European Union has been banned since 1 January 2009. The import ban was imposed in order to curb the cruel keeping and slaughter of dogs and cats to produce fur and leather in some countries outside the EU. Whilst trade in such fur indeed appears to have been largely prevented, the lack of labelling means that the import of products manufactured from cat and dog skin is still widespread.
1. How large a share of European Union imports is made up of leather goods produced from dog and cat skin, particularly shoes?
2. What steps will the EU take in order to prevent the import of products for which cats and dogs were killed for their skin?
3. What view does the European Union take of the introduction of mandatory labelling for leather goods?
OJ C 189, 13/07/2010