Internal market: ban the placing on the market and the import or export of cat and dog fur and products containing such fur

In adopting the report drafted by Ms Eva-Britt SVENSSON (GUE/NGL, S), the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection amended, in first reading of the codecision procedure, the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council banning the placing on the market and the import of, or export from, the Community of cat and dog fur and products containing such fur.

The main amendments adopted are as follows:

- a definition of 'fur', that is aligned with existing US and Australian laws on the matter, has been introduced, i.e.'furs' shall mean furs, skins and pelts or any other part of dogs and cats from which fur could be obtained ;

- by including the sale, manufacture, offer for sale, transportation and distribution of cat and dog fur and products containing such fur, the text is further clarified for the avoidance of doubt;

- the Committee rejected the derogation proposed by the European Commission whereby it would have been possible to place on the Community market furs where such fur or products containing such fur is labelled as originating from cats or dogs that have not been bred or killed for fur production or which are personal or household effects being introduced into the Community, or exported there from;

- Members also call for the Member States to lay down the rules on penalties, including where appropriate criminal penalties, applicable to infringements of this Regulation and to take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. In particular, Member States which seize consignments of cat and dog fur following the implementation of this Regulation shall adopt laws enabling them to confiscate and destroy such consignments and to suspend or revoke the import/export licences granted to the traders concerned;

- to ensure the involvement of the interested parties in the implementation of the regulation, Member States should also consider, where appropriate, providing for class actions. In addition, they shall report annually to the Commission on the application of the penalties;

- one year after the submission by the Member States of their second annual report, the Commission should report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of this Regulation. This report should be updated following the submission of the fourth annual report by the Member States. The Commission's reports should be made available to the public;

- lastly,the Member States should report annually to the Commission on their enforcement of this Regulation and the adequacy of resources used to this end. These reports should include information on the provisions for training of customs officials and the procedures by which those officials ensure effective identification of dog and cat fur products and carry out appropriate action for the enforcement of this Regulation.