COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
C0MC89) 198 final 
Brussels/ 26 April 1989 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL RE6ULATI0N (EEC) 
on the importation of certain furs 
(presended by the Commission) 
PROPOSAL FOB A BECPLATIOH OH THE IHPQ1TATI0H 
QF ÇCTTAIH FUffi 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
THE LECHOLD TRAP 
The leghold trap is a device designed to restrain .or captura an 
animal by means of metal (or similar) clamps which close tightly upon 
one or more of the animal's limbs and, in doing so, often breaks 
bones and lacerates the skin. 
The device has been banned in over 60 countries worldwide and in five 
of the Member States of the European Community (United Kingdom, 
Ireland, Denmark, Federal Republic of Germany, Greece. The majority 
of other Member States have imposed strict conditions on their use. 
Moreover, the Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and 
natural habitats, concluded by the European Community in December 
1981 by Council Decision 82/72/EEC prohibits the use of 
indiscriminate means of capture and killing for certain species, 
including traps. 
Research into the development of humane trapping methods is, however, 
already well underway and focuses on the creation of either instant 
killing devices (such as the modified Conibear trap - used in 
drowning sets) or on live holding devices (such as box traps or the 
Kim Novak leg snare) that are best suited to the individual species. 
Moreover, International Trapping Standards are being elaborated under 
the auspices of the International Standardisation Organisation with 
the participation of several Member States. 
THE FOURTH ENVIRONMENT ACTION PROGRAMME 
In the framework of the Fourth Environment Action Programme (1987-
1992) whose guidelines were in general approved by the Council in its 
Resolution of 19 October, 1987 (OJ C 328 of 7 December, 1987), the 
fr 
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Commission recalled its intentions in relation to animal welfare as 
set out in the Commission programme for 1985 : 
"An improvement in the quality of life also entails respect 
for animals in the Member States and in the Member States 
dealings with the rest of the world ... The Commission will 
examine all possible steps which can be taken in this 
connection." 
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 
In July 1988, a written Declaration (n° 9/88) was tabled by Mr 
Sell groan (ED - UK.) and Mrs Castle (S - UK) under Rule 65 of the 
Parliament's Rules of Procedures calling on the Commission to 
initiate an EC-wide ban on the manufacture, sale and use of the 
leghold trap and to introduce proposals for the labelling of fur 
products imported into the Community to indicate whether they derive 
from animals caught in leghold traps. This Declaration was 
subsequently signed by 272 Members and has therefore been transmitted 
officially as the Opinion of the European Parliament to the Community 
institutions named in the Resolution, in this case the Commission. 
ACTION WITHIN THE ESC 
In the context of its proposal for a Council Directive ' ' on the 
protection of natural and semi-natural habitats and of wild fauna and 
flora, the Commission has proposed that Member States prohibit the 
manufacture, sale and use of leghold traps. This proposal is now 
being considered by the Council and Parliament. 
THE PRESENT PROPOSAL 
The present proposal is intended to supplement the measures mentioned 
in the preceding paragraph. 
Nowadays, most furs on the market come from farms (80-90 X). However 
some species remain almost exclusively wild caught. The list of 
species in the annex to this proposal for a Regulation is restricted 
to those that are known to be commercially harvested in countries 
1 ) OJ Ref.... 
- 3 -
that still use the leghold trap for the capture of the animals of 
these species. 
In view of the measures taken within the European Community, this 
present proposal intends to prohibit the importation for commercial 
purposes, from 1st January, 1996, of certain goods that are made from 
or include fur of the species listed in the annex where they 
originate in a country where the leghold trap is still used or where 
the trapping methods being used for the listed species, do not meet 
internationally agreed humane trapping standards. 
This prohibition can be suspended for a two year period, expiring on 
1st January, 1998, if the Commission has determined, as a result of a 
review undertaken before July 1994, in cooperation with the competent 
authorities of the countries concerned, that sufficient progress is 
being made in developing humane methods of trapping in their 
territory. The Commission will also be seeking active participation 
in the elaboration of the international humane trapping standards 
once the present proposal is adopted. 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION 
on the importation of certain furs 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic 
Community, and in particular Article 113 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament, 
Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee, 
Whereas Council Directive .../.../EEC of on the protection of .natural and 
1 semi-natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora requires Member 
States to prohibit the manufacture, sale and use of the leghold trap'. 
Whereas the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and 
2 
Natural Habitats, concluded by the Community by Council 
Decision 82/72/EEC, prohibits the use of indiscriminate means of 
capture and killing, including traps, for certain species; 
Whereas the leghold trap is a non-selective and cruel method of 
trapping; whereas, however, research into the development of humane 
trapping methods is already in progress; whereas, in addition, the Community's 
Fourth Environmental Action Programme lays down some general 
guidelines for action in the field of animal welfare; 
Whereas, in view of the measures taken within the Community, 
it is appropriate that, from 1 January 1996, the importation for 
commercial purposes of certain goods consisting of or including 
the fur of the species listed in Annex I should be prohibited 
when they originate in a country where the leghold trap is still used 
(1) OJ No L 
(2) OJ No L 38, 10.2.1982, p. 1. 
(3) OJ No C 328, 7.12.1987, p. 1. 
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in their territory or where trapping methods do not meet 
internationally agreed humane trapping standards; 
Whereas this prohibition can be suspended for a two-year period, 
expiring on 31 December 1997-, if tne commission has determined before 
1 July 1994, as a result of a review undertaken in cooperation with 
the competent authorities of the countries concerned, that sufficient 
progress is being made in developing humane methods of trapping in 
their territory ? 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : 
ABTIÇItE 1 
This Regulation applies to the importation of furs of the species 
listed in Annex I and of goods including the fur of those species. 
AJIIÇLf z 
For the purposes of this Regulation: 
Specified goods : means all goods listed in Annex II which consist of or 
include the fur of any of the animals listed in Annex I. 
Leahold trap : means a trap designed to restrain or capture an animal 
by means of clamps which close tightly upon one or more of the animal's 
limbs thereby preventing the limb or limbs from being withdrawn from the 
trap. 
QBUUkàEaB&MXi 
1. The entry for free circulation for commercial purposes of the specified goods snail 
be prohibited from 1 January 1996, unless the Commission has 
certified that, in the country where the goods originated: 
- there exist adequate administrative or legislative provisions, in 
force, to prohibit the use of the leghold trap in its territory; or 
the trapping methods used in its territory for the species 
listed in Annex I meet internationally agreed humane trapping 
standards. 
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The Commission shall publish in the Official Journal of the European 
Communities a list of countries in respect of which certificates 
have been granted. 
2. The prohibition of the entry for free circulation for ccnnercial pjrposes of the 
specified goods shall be suspended by the Commission for a two-year 
period, expiring on 31 December 1997, if the Commission has determinod 
before 1 July 1994, as a result of a review undertaken in cooperation 
with the competent authorities of the countries concerned, that sufficient 
progress is being made in developing humane methods of trapping in their 
territory. ~v 
Article 4 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in 
the Official Journal of the European Communities. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable 
in all Member States. 
Done at Brussels, For the Council 
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AjgregjL 
List of species : 
Beaver 
Otter 
Coyote 
Wolf 
Lynx 
Bobcat 
Sable 
Raccoon Castor canadensis 
Lutra canadensis 
Canis latrans 
Canis lupus 
Lynx canadensis 
v Felis rufus 
Martes zibellina 
Procyon lotor 
ANNEX II 
N° CN CODE DESCRIPTION 
4103 Othtr raw hidaa and skins (fresh, or salted, 
dried, liaed, pickled or otherwise preserved, but 
not tanned, parchment-dressed or further 
prepared) , whether or not âahalred or «split, othex* 
than thoee excluded by note 1 (b) ox 1 (3) to this 
chapter : 
4103 90 00 - Other 
4301 Raw furskins (including heads, tails, paws anol 
other pieces or cuttings, auitable for furriers1 
use), other than raw hides and skins of heading 
No 4101, 4102 or 4103 : 
4301 40 00 - Of beaver, whole, with or without head, tail or 
paws 
4301 ao - Other furakins, whole, with or without head, 
tail or paws i 
4301 80 50 - - Of wild felines 
4301 80 90 - - Other 
4301 90 00 - Heads, tails, pews and other pieces or cuttings, 
suitable for furriers1 use 
4302 Tanned or dressed furskins (including heads, 
tails, pawd and other pieces or cuttings), 
unassembled, or assembled (without the addition of 
other materials) other than thoee of heading 
Mo 4303 i 
- Whole skins, with or without head, tail or pews, 
not assembled : 
4302 19 - - Other i 
4302 19 10 - - - of beaver 
4302 19 70 - - - Of wild felines 
4302 19 90 - - - other 
4302 20 00 - Heads, tails, pavs and ether pieces or cuttings, 
not assembled 
4302 30 - Whole skins and pieces or cuttings thereof, 
assembled r 
4302 30 10 -, - •Dropped1 furskins 
- - Other : 
% 
^— Z^JL 
1° CN CODE DESCRIPTION 
4902 30 33 - - - Of beaver 
4302 30 71 ... of wild felines 
4302 30 73 ... other 
4303 Articles of apparel, clothing aoeessoriea and 
other articles of furskia i 
4303 10 * Articles of apparel and clothing accessories i 
4303 10 90 - - Other 
4303 90 00 - Other 
1 

Commission of the European Communities 
COM(89) 198 final 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
on the importation of certain furs 
(submitted to the Council by the Commission) 
26.4.1989 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L - 2985 Luxembourg 
Series: DOCUMENTS 
1989 — 10 pp. — Format: 21.0 * 29.7 cm 
EN 
ISSN 0254-1475 
ISBN 92-77-49255-4 
Catalogue number: CB-CO-89-169-EN-C 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(89) 198 final 
DOCUMENTS 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
on the importation of certain furs 
(submitted to the Council by the Commission) 
15 
Catalogue number: CB-CO-89-169-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-49255-4 26.4.1989 
€ 
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES