Mr. HeppelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when a technical working group of the European Union with Canada and the USA was established to develop humane trapping standards; and if he will make a statement on its activities. [38705]
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that EC Regulation 3254/91 to Ban the Import of Fur from Certain Species will be implemented at the end of the year and that no further delays in its implementation occur; and if he will make a statement. [38706]
§ Mr. ClappisonI understand that the working group was established in August this year. The United Kingdom is not represented on it and we have not so far received any written report from it. We would expect any advice from the working group to be submitted to the Council of Ministers.
The Government strongly support the objectives of EC Regulation 3254/91 which was adopted by the Council of Ministers in November 1991. The ban will come into force on 1 January 1996. We are currently awaiting formal receipt of the Commission's detailed proposals for implementing the ban on the import of certain furs from countries which still use leghold traps. The proposals are expected to include a list of countries which have already banned the use of leghold traps and can therefore continue to trade in fur products from the 13 species listed in the regulation.