by Mark Glover, Respect For Animals
Taken From The Animals' Agenda - January/February 2001
The British government's bill to ban fur farming has, at
last, become law. The ban marks a significant milestone in a 15-year
campaign against the U.K. fur trade led by Respect for Animals (formerly
Lynx) and supported by several groups.
The final parliamentary stages were heard on November
22, and Royal Ascent was given the next day. The Fur Farming
(Prohibition) Act bans the keeping or breeding of animals "for
slaughter.for the value of their fur" and will apply to England and
Wales. The Scottish and Northern Irish legislatures have both indicated
their intentions to bring in their own bans, although there are no fur
farms in either jurisdiction.
The ban will end for farming by the end of 2003, but
most farms will likely close sooner. The law contains a provision for
compensating those affected following a consultation periods and an
audit of their businesses.
Only 13 fur farms will be directly affected by he ban,
but the passage of the Westminster legislation could set a significant
precedent. The Netherlands, in particular, has shown great interest in
how it has come about and is being encouraged to follow suit. The second
biggest breeder of mink in the world, the Netherlands has already
outlawed fox and chinchilla farming, and the Dutch Parliament has voted
to ban mink breeding as well. Now it is hoped that the Ministry of
Agriculture will do likewise.
During the final debate in Britain, the few opponents of
the bell forced the only vote during its progress on a technicality. Of
the 330 Members of Parliament present, all but 27 demonstrated their
support for the ban. Elliot Morley, Parliamentary Secretary to the
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, explained why the
government felt so strongly about the issue of fur factory farming and
why it was banning it. "We are introducing the Bill because fur farming
is a moral issue; opposition to such
farming is based on morality," Morley said. "The fur farming industry
does not provide for basic needs and does not justify the killing of an
animal. In a modern society, for farming has no justification in terms
of need."
During it's prolonged campaign against fur farming,
Respect for Animals undertook a number of undercover investigations.
Such evidence led directly to the only prosecutions for cruelty of
anyone involved in U.K. for farming, and included the only film of
animals being slaughtered on a British fur farm. A man was videotaped
gassing the mink as well as seen punching and smashing the animals on
the floor and against the killing box. Scenes such as these undoubtedly
contributed to the political will against fur farming.
�Reprinted with permission from The Animals� Agenda,
P.O. Box 25881,
Baltimore, MD 21224; (410) 675-4566;
www.animalsagenda.org.�
Email:
[email protected]
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