Scotland

BRITISH FUR TRADE ASSOCIATION PRESS RELEASE, JANUARY 27, 2002

Scottish Executive Out of Touch with Public Opinion on Fur

The overwhelming majority (86%) of Scottish people supports the farming of animals for any purpose - not just for food - so long as there is good animal welfare! That's according to a new poll by Scottish Opinion commissioned by the British Fur Trade Association (BFTA). Only 3% of those interviewed disagreed strongly with this viewpoint!

The poll also found that 7 out of 10 Scots (70%) consider natural fibres like fur to be environmentally sound.

The BFTA says: "The Scottish Opinion poll has revealed just how little public support there is for the proposed ban on fur farming which is to be debated in the Scottish Parliament this week. [Wednesday, 30 January]

"People agree that it is OK to farm animals for any purpose and fur farming and good animal welfare go hand in hand. Scottish people are entitled to an explanation as to why valuable parliamentary time is to be wasted on seeking a draconian and unjustified ban of a legitimate farming activity for the sake of political dogma.

"It is not surprising that Scottish people also perceive fur to be eco-friendly. Fur, as with wool, leather and silk, is a sustainable natural resource. We know that consumers are voting with their feet and wallets as they flock to the shops to buy fur. People say their fur garments are a necessity to keep warm in - and they want to look good too!"

The demand for farmed fur is reflected in soaring world mink production, which increased 10% last year and gave fur farmers an average 22% increase per pelt at the farmgate.

The survey follows a UK-wide poll in September 2001, which yielded similar results.

Notes to editors:

1. Members of the British Fur Trade Association buy the majority of the world’s farmed fur at primary level (at auction) making the UK the world’s leading market for fur.

The Fur Farming (Prohibition) (Scotland) Bill is to be debated in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, 30 January 2002. For further information on the Bill, click here.

2. Statistics:

85% of the world’s fur is produced on farms - 70% in the European Union.

Fur farming is carried out in 12 of 15 EU countries on more than 6,000 farms and is one of the few farming activities that is unsubsidised. Denmark is the world’s largest country producer. The UK's largest mink farmer (and one of the world's leading producers of Blue Iris mink) has shifted his farm to Denmark, withdrawing more than £2 million from the local economy of Bude, Devon (following the ban on fur farming in England and Wales).

Mink production rose from 27 million in 2000 to 29 million pelts in 2001, continuing a 10-year upward trend.

More designers than ever before featured fur in their collections in 2001 - a ten-fold increase since 1985 (40) when statistics were first recorded. Top designers and fashion houses using fur included Dior, Gucci, Chanel, Versace, Julien Macdonald, Maria Grachvogel, Jasper Conran, Jean Paul Gaultier and Givenchy.

3. Scottish Opinion carried out the nationwide opinion research between 7th - 13th December 2001 (adults age 18+ in Scotland). The results of the UK-wide research by Taylor Nelson Sofres plc in September 2001 are in brackets. Question 1: In principle, I find it acceptable that animals are kept on farms for any purpose, provided there is good animal welfare. Agree 86% (82%), Disagree (of which 3% disagreed strongly) 7% (8%) Question 2: Using natural fibres (e.g. wool, silk, fur and leather) is environmentally sound. Agree 70% (67%), Neither agree or disagree 14% (16%), Disagreed 16% (15%)

For further information contact: British Fur Trade Association, Brookstone House, 6 Elthorne Road, London N19 4RQ; info@britishfur.co.uk; Press contact: Jan Brown; Tel: mobile 07881 821413; press@britishfur.com

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