The fur trade

are fur farms banned in the UK?

yes

when were fur farms banned in the UK?

2002

is the trade of animal fur legal in the UK?

yes

sources of animal fur

fur farms, animals caught in the wild

main locations of fur farms

Europe, North America, China

legislation

Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act 2000

what law banned fur farms in England and Wales?

Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act 2000

in which countries does catching wild animals for the fur trade mainly occur in?

North America and Russia

ways fur is sold

auctioned

privately sold to manufacturers

finished products make their way to retailers internationally

CITES stands for…

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

what is CITES?

an international agreement between governments

covers the fur trade - the trade of species threatened with extinction is under strict regulation in order to not endanger the survival of these species further

role of CITES

aims to ensure that international trade in species does not threaten their survival

chinchillas IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

classed as endangered

means they are at serious risk of extinction in the wild

they have been hunted a lot in the past, e.g. for the fur trade

they are bred in captivity for fur farms and the pet industry

IUCN

International Union for Conservation of Nature

trading of endangered species

CITES monitors the import and export of endangered species by presentation of a permit, which are granted when the Scientific Authority and the Management Authority of the area are happy that the import/export meets the following conditions:

1. the trade will not be detrimental to the survival of the species

2. the animals were not obtained in an illegal way

3. the animals will be prepared and shipped in a way that minimises risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment

common fur types imported to the UK

fox and mink

importing fur/skin to the UK

banned for endangered species without a permit

total ban on imports of furs from:

certain species e.g. seals, cats and dogs

animals caught in leg-hold traps