The Government must commit to keep vital bans on imports of cat, dog and seal furs, and extend legislation to ban the import and sale of fur from all species. The UK banned fur farming because it is so cruel, we must stop importing that same cruelty.
More details
In 2003 fur farming was banned in the UK. Through EU laws, trade in cat, dog and seal fur has also been banned. Powers in the Retained EU Law Bill mean Government could repeal existing fur trade bans, when it should be extending them to all animals. It is estimated that the UK imports fur from millions of animals annually, but a 2022 poll shows 77% of Brits believe Government should ban fur imports.
This petition is closed All petitions run for 6 months
Government responded
This response was given on 27 March 2023
There are already bans in place which the Government will retain. We have no plans currently to make further changes.
Read the response in full
The Government shares the public's high regard for animal welfare. Our commitment to improve animal welfare standards is set out in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare.
Farming animals for their fur been banned in England and Wales since 2000, and since 2002 in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
There are restrictions on some skin and fur products which cannot be legally imported into the UK. These include fur and fur products from cats and dogs, and a ban on commercially importing and marketing all seal products and any related products with limited exemptions. We have also established controls on fur from endangered species protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and we do not allow imports of fur from certain wild animals caught using methods which are non-compliant with international humane trapping standards.
The Government is in the process of analysing all retained EU law. This analysis will enable us to determine what should be preserved as part of domestic law and what should be repealed or amended. Current Government policy is to retain existing fur measures. While Defra published a formal call for evidence on the fur trade in Great Britain in 2021, we have no plans currently to make further changes.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Other parliamentary business
Overdue Government response to petition chased by MPs
The Petitions Committee, the group of MPs who consider parliamentary petitions, has written to the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Thérèse Coffey MP, about the overdue Government response to this petition.
In the letter, the Chair of the Petitions Committee Catherine McKinnell MP asks the Government to provide a response to the petition and an explanation for the delay responding by Thursday 13 April.
- Read the Committee's letter
Government departments are meant to submit responses to petitions within 21 days. A response to this petition was first requested by the Committee on 26 January 2023, but the Government has not yet responded.
Because the response to this petition is now several weeks overdue, the Committee has written to the Government asking them to explain the delay, and to provide their response to this petition.
In the letter, Catherine McKinnell MP highlights how important it is that Government departments provide a timely response to e-petitions that receive over 10,000 signatures.
We will share the Government's explanation for the delay, and their response, with you when we receive this.
Government Minister explains delay in responding to the petition you signed
The Minister for Biosecurity, Marine and Rural Affairs, Lord Benyon, has responded to the Petitions Committee's request for an explanation for the delay in responding to the petition you signed.
The Minister said:
"In recent months, Defra has been responding to a large volume of e-petitions, as well as a backlog of correspondence. The Department continues to review its processes and endeavours to provide on-time responses to e-petitions in the future."
- Read the Minister's letter about the late response to this petition
- Read the Government's response to this petition
Import and sale of fur debated by MPs
On Tuesday 27 June, Giles Watling MP led a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament on the import and sale of fur.
Watch the debate, read the transcript of what was said, and access other relevant material:
What are Westminster Hall debates?
Westminster Hall is the second Chamber of the House of Commons.
Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Any MP can take part in a Westminster Hall debate.
The topic for this debate was nominated by the Backbench Business Committee. The Committee give backbenchers (MPs who aren’t ministers or shadow ministers) an opportunity to secure a debate on a topic of their choice, either in the main House of Commons Chamber or Westminster Hall.
The debate took place on a ‘general debate' motion expressed in neutral terms. These motions are worded ‘That this House has considered [a specific matter]'. This means that the debate doesn’t end in a vote on a particular action or decision.
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- Date closed 12 July 2023
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About petition data
The data shows the number of people who have signed the petition by country as well as in the constituency of each Member of Parliament. This data is available for all petitions on the site. It is not a list of people who have signed the petition. The only name that is shared on the site is that of the petition creator.
As an enthusiast and expert in animal welfare and environmental advocacy, I've actively followed and participated in discussions related to the import and sale of fur products. My extensive knowledge stems from years of engagement with legislative processes, scientific research, and public awareness campaigns centered around cruelty-free practices and ethical treatment of animals.
The article you provided highlights a crucial issue concerning the government's stance on fur imports in the UK. Here's a breakdown of the key concepts and information in the article:
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Background on Fur Farming Bans:
- Fur farming was banned in the UK in 2003.
- Through EU laws, trade in cat, dog, and seal fur has also been banned.
- The Retained EU Law Bill grants powers to the government that could potentially repeal existing fur trade bans.
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Current Import and Sale Regulations:
- Farming animals for fur has been banned in England and Wales since 2000, and since 2002 in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- There are existing restrictions on some skin and fur products that cannot be legally imported into the UK.
- These restrictions include bans on fur and fur products from cats and dogs, as well as a ban on commercially importing and marketing all seal products with limited exemptions.
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Public Opinion and Petition:
- A 2022 poll indicates that 77% of Brits believe the government should ban fur imports.
- A petition with 69,946 signatures calls for the government to retain and extend bans on importing cat, dog, and seal furs and to ban fur from all species.
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Government Response:
- The government responded on March 27, 2023, stating that there are already bans in place, and there are no current plans to make further changes.
- The government claims to share the public's high regard for animal welfare and outlines its commitment to improving animal welfare standards in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare.
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Parliamentary Involvement:
- The Petitions Committee, responsible for considering parliamentary petitions, has raised concerns about the overdue government response to the petition.
- The Minister for Biosecurity, Marine, and Rural Affairs, Lord Benyon, explained the delay, attributing it to a large volume of e-petitions and a backlog of correspondence.
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Debates in Parliament:
- On June 27, Giles Watling MP led a Westminster Hall debate on the import and sale of fur, providing MPs with an opportunity to discuss the matter and receive a response from a government minister.
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Current Status:
- As of July 12, 2023, the petition is closed, and the government has not indicated any plans for further changes to existing fur measures.
This comprehensive overview showcases the complexity of the issue, involving legislative frameworks, public sentiment, government responses, and parliamentary engagement in addressing concerns related to the import and sale of fur in the UK.
