Illegal imports of dog and cat fur

21.3.2011

Question for written answer E-003067/2011
to the Commission
Rule 117
Elisabetta Gardini (PPE)

Regulation (EC) No 1523/2007 bans the placing on the market and the import to, or export from, the European Union of cat and dog fur, and products containing such fur.

However, the media have recently brought the issue of illegal imports of such fur back to the fore, as it is said to still be frequently illegally used to line jackets, gloves, hoods, cuffs and collars.

Falsely labelled dog and cat fur arrives from Korea, China and other Asian countries where it is not illegal to breed dogs and cats for food and their fur.

These dogs and cats are generally bred in appalling conditions and killed by inconceivably violent methods, merely to satisfy the fur industry and deceive unsuspecting consumers.

This dramatic underground trade is still ongoing.

1. Would the Commission not agree that it should step up checks on such goods entering and leaving the European Union in order to ensure that products bought by consumers do not contain dog or cat fur?

2. What additional measures does it consider necessary in order to establish a more efficient system for determining the species of origin of fur?

3. Does it intend to increase the penalties for breaching the aforementioned regulation?

OJ C 309 E, 21/10/2011