I appreciate that there is considerable support for banning all imports of fur products and I am pleased that the Government has decided to seek views on animal welfare through a recent call for evidence. This will be published soon and will be used to inform any future decisions on the fur trade.
The production of foie gras from ducks or geese using force feeding raises serious welfare concerns. This method of production has been banned in the UK for over 15 years following the introduction of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and I welcome that the Government’s Action Plan for Animal Welfare setting out the Government’s vision to introduce a range of world-leading reforms to improve the welfare and conservation of animals at home and abroad. Through this Action Plan, my ministerial colleagues have committed to building a clear evidence base to inform decisions on the import or sale of foie gras.
I appreciate your concerns from the recent news reports that the Animals Abroad Bill may drop plans to ban the sale and import of foie gras and fur in the UK. I have written to the Secretary of State with your views and I will keep a close eye on progress of the consultations.
