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EUROPEAN FUR BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION PRESS RELEASENOVEMBER 17, 1999
Euro Fur Farmers Say Proposed UK Ban "Totally Unjustified"
The European Fur Breeders' Association (EFBA), which represents fur farmers in 16 European countries, remains strongly opposed to any attempt to ban mink farming.
"A ban on fur farming in the UK would be totally unjustified," declared Wim Verhagen, Chairman of EFBA, today. "Standards of animal welfare are good and continue to improve with the latest scientific findings. The fur sector is well regulated and fur farming is recognised in law as part of European agriculture."
All Member States in the Council of Europe, including the United Kingdom, agreed new high standards for fur farming last summer with the involvement of scientists, veterinarians, ethologists and animal welfare groups, as well as fur farmers. "They set the benchmark for the next Millennium", added Mr. Verhagen, who is based in Holland.
The European Commission is expected to use the already high standards adopted by the Council of Europe as a basis for EU legislation, which is fully supported by EFBA. The process of preparing an EU Directive specifically on fur farmed animals has begun, as part of EU's policy to cover in detail the welfare conditions of all farmed animals.
A ban on mink farming in the UK would put Britain at odds with others in the EU where nearly 70% of farmed fur is produced. The UK production would be switched to other countries and Britain sidelined in any consideration of still further advances in fur farm animal welfare.
"There are no scientific grounds for such a ban", said Wim Verhagen. "The UK government should think carefully before yielding to lobby groups with a much wider agenda."
Notes to editors:
(1) 20 member countries of the Council of Europe are directly engaged in fur farming.
(2) Fur farming is already recognized as part of established farming by the EU under EU Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes.
See also:
Queen Bee Stings Back : Fur-Clad Monarch Condemns Terrorism, Ignores Fur Farming Victims FCUSA press release, Nov. 17, 1999.
"Britain Sidelined on Animal Welfare," Warns British Fur Trade Association British Fur Trade Association press release, Nov. 17, 1999.
Base Fur Farming Decisions on Animal Welfare Parameters, Not Emotion British Fur Council press release, May 14, 1999.
UK's Fur Farming (Prohibition) Bill "Fundamentally Wrong" European Fur Breeders' Association press release, May 14, 1999.
For more information, please contact: Wim Verhagen, Chairman, European Fur Breeders' Association, on +31 24 622 1980 or (mobile) +31 653 217038 or Ray Spencer, Fur Farming Communications Advisor, on (mobile) 07971 080401.
© 1998-2008 Fur Commission USA