Trade in cat and dog fur may be banned in 2009

Trading in cat and dog fur may be banned in the European Union from the end of 2008 after a vote at the European parliament on Tuesday. The European Commission, the EU executive, first proposed an EU-wide ban last year, citing evidence cat and dog fur was being placed on the European market, often disguised as synthetic fur.
Tuesday's parliamentary vote paves the way for the proposal to be sent to EU farm ministers for approval. If all goes smoothly, the EU will ban the import, export and sale of cat and dog fur, and any products produced from or containing this fur, from December 31, 2008. Several EU governments have already prohibited such trading for years.