WRITTEN QUESTION E-0542/01 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Cat and dog furs.
Date: 2001-02-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: domestic animal, hides and furskins industry, import, international trade, marketing restriction, protection of animals

C 340 E/44

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

2.

At whose suggestion did the Commission decide to do this?

3.
Is the Commission aware of Mr Heyndrickx(cid:146) reputation, and in particular claims by fellow scientists
that he uses (cid:145)less than scientific(cid:146) research methods? If so, why did the Commission nevertheless turn to
Mr Heyndrickx? If not, will the Commission seek further information about Mr Heyndrickx(cid:146) scientific
reputation?

4.
Is the Commission aware of the close links which Mr Heyndrickx is alleged, by the court in South
Africa, to have had with Dr Wouter Basson? If so, why did the Commission nevertheless decide to engage
Mr Heyndrickx? If not, will the Commission seek further information about the close links which
Mr Heyndrickx is alleged to have had with Dr Basson?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(6 June 2001)

Mr Heyndrickx on his own initiative sent several letters to the President of the Commission.

The Commission has not charged Mr Heyndrickx to undertake any studies mentioned in the Honourable
Member(cid:146)s question nor is it aware of any other activities of his.

(2001/C 340 E/050)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0542/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(23 February 2001)

Subject: Cat and dog furs

The American organisation the Humane Society and various European animal rights associations have
recently denounced the fact that 2 million cats and dogs are killed every year for their fur.

The numbers are shocking, particularly since the animals are killed in a most barbarous fashion, by being
skinned alive, an absolutely horrible practice.

The people who wear these furs are not aware of the fact that they are dog or cat furs. They are imported
concealed as components of clothes or fluffy toys in bad taste, which are deliberately labelled in an
incomprehensible manner.

This gruesome trade originates mainly in China, Thailand, Korea and the Philippines and Europe is the
main market. Most traders who sell clothes made from (cid:145)imitation fur(cid:146) (cid:129) which is not imitation at all (cid:129) are
acting in good faith. It is the case, however, that at the beginning of the 1990s a skiing equipment
company used dog fur to line its ski boots.

1.

Can the Commission say whether it is aware of these revolting activities;

2. What measures it intends to propose to stop this horrendous trade;

3. Whether it is possible to require checks to be carried out and labelling to correspond to the materials
actually used for clothes and other products?

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 340 E/45

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2001)

The Commission would like to refer the Honourable Member to its answers to Written Question
E-3981/00 from Mr Stevenson (1) and P-0359/01 from Mrs McNally (2).

Checks which are carried out at the border ensure that the products imported comply with the import
conditions established in the Community.

There is no Community legislation requiring labelling for any natural fur product. However, manufacturers
or importers are free to use voluntary labelling.

(1) OJ C 163 E, 6.6.2001, p. 232.
(2) OJ C 187 E, 3.7.2001, p. 220.

(2001/C 340 E/051)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0543/01

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) and Vincenzo Lavarra (PSE) to the Commission

(23 February 2001)

Subject: BSE risks

On 7 February 2001 the European Commission submitted three proposals for decisions designed to
combat the risks arising from exposure to BSE to the Standing Veterinary Committee.

The proposals provide for exemptions conditional on the obligation to remove the spinal cord from cattle
over the age of 12 months (the spinal cord can be removed at the place of sale to the consumer) in respect
of five countries: Austria, Finland, Sweden, Portugal and the United Kingdom.

There are no limits on the export of beef from Austria, Finland and Sweden into the other Member States.
The same is not true of beef from the United Kingdom and Portugal. The provision could therefore be in
breach of the rules on competition which govern the internal market.

It would perhaps be advisable to grant derogations on the basis of firms rather than countries. Such
derogations should only be granted to firms subject to strict controls covering the entire production chain.
This would ensure effective consumer protection and provide better safeguards with regard to the danger
of the distortion the market to the detriment of the countries on which trade restrictions have been
imposed.

Can the Commission say what provisions it intends to adopt in this area?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(14 May 2001)

The Scientific Steering Committee, in its opinion of 12 January 2001 on the safety with regard to bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) of certain bovine tissues and certain animal-derived products, indicated
its view that the vertebral column of bovines over 12 months should be regarded as specified risk material
(SRM). It also indicated that in assessing the risk to human health posed by the bovine vertebral column,
account should be taken of the likelihood of the animal being infected, and made particular reference to
the existence of an effective feed ban.

Following this opinion and the conclusion of the Agriculture Council of 29 January 2001, the Commission
brought forward a proposal to the Standing Veterinary Committee of 7 February 2001 (1) adding the
vertebral column to the list of SRMs, but giving certain derogations to United Kingdom, Portugal, Austria,
Finland and Sweden. The derogations for Austria, Finland and Sweden are based principally on their low
Geographical BSE Risk; those for the United Kingdom and Portugal are based on the demonstration of an
effective feed ban.