(19/04/2006) Fur labelling - ensures customers are well informed

The British Fur Trade Association (BFTA) is a member of the International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF), an international federation of national trade associations representing 30 countries worldwide. IFTF and its local associations promote the adherence to strict codes of practice that meet or exceed many international, national and state government standards for animal welfare.

Contrary to information that is currently being publicised by animal rights organisations, members of the British Fur Trade Association (BFTA) along with members of the European Fur Federation (EFF) do not handle or offer for sale domestic cat and dog skins nor is there any consumer demand for these items. 

The UK Government has confirmed it has no evidence of the existence of imports of cat and dog fur into the UK (Ministerial statements to House of Commons by Mike O'Brien MP, 28 January 2004 and Douglas Alexander MP , 27 January 2005).

To ensure that consumers can be fully informed of which type of fur they are buying at the point of purchase, the BFTA has introduced a labelling initiative in partnership with17 EU members of the International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF), plus Norway and Switzerland.  The initiative ensures that all fur items sold by our retail members are labelled with the individual fur species in English along with its scientific Latin name.  All BFTA retail members implement this labelling initiative as a condition of BFTA membership.

The BFTA recommends that consumers buy fur garments and accessories from reputable furriers such as members of the BFTA.

Issued by the British Fur Trade Association
Press contact: Andrea Martin
e-mail press@britishfur.co.uk