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INTERNATIONAL FUR TRADE FEDERATION PRESS RELEASE, FEBRUARY 11, 2003
IFTF Meetings Show Increasing Co-operation within International Fur Trade
INTERNATIONAL fur trade representatives from 21 countries have met in Copenhagen to discuss areas of ongoing co-operation and activities for 2003.
At the International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF) Council Meeting on 6 February, delegates came together to hear reports on fashion, political and farming developments within the industry.
Following a stimulating presentation on Fur Fashion Trends for Autumn Winter 2003-04 by IFTF's fashion consultant, delegates were updated by the PR Committee Chairman, Dr Robert Liska, on proposed PR activities for 2003.
Delegates were also briefed on the progress of IFTF's Ethics Research Project, and on the findings and implications of the recent report on animal production produced by the Danish Animal Ethics Council. One conclusion of this lengthy report is that, from an ethical point of view, it does not matter if animals are farmed in order to produce fur or foodstuffs.
Member countries reported to their IFTF colleagues on national communications campaigns and political developments concerning fur farming. There was also a presentation on a possible alternative housing system for mink, which has been developed in The Netherlands, and a report on the Fur wRaps the Hill project.
The previous day (Wednesday, 5 February, 2003), 13 countries were represented at the meeting of European IFTF members. Delegates discussed opportunities for closer co-operation, including a Europe-wide design competition and the introduction of a European labelling scheme, based on the example being developed by Italy, which includes the scientific Latin name of the fur type.
European members also received a report on the progress being made in the development of a new species identification method by scientists at Saarbrucken University in Germany. It was agreed that the fur trade would support the development of a "library" of fur-bearing species' genetic data, so that fur types can be identified against a mapped genetic sequence.
Chairman of IFTF, Andreas Lenhart, said: "It is very encouraging to see how many people attended the meetings over the two days. There was a clear desire amongst delegates to work closer together and pool our resources and knowledge, which can only be of benefit to the entire fur trade."
For further information visit www.iftf.com, or contact: International Fur Trade Federation, PO Box 495, Weybridge, KT13 8WD, U.K.; pressoffice@iftf.com; Fax: +44-1932-850033.