Support Animal Welfare Rural SME’s and Consumer Information
The European Fur Breeders’ Association (EFBA) and the International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF) invite European Union stakeholders to work with them in 2010 on issues that affect fur farming and the fur trade. EFBA is a non-profit association based in Brussels representing the interest of 6,000 European fur-farmers among 15 countries: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden. IFTF is an independent federation representing all fur sector interests worldwide. It comprises 42 member organization in 35 countries, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK.
European Champions
The EU is the world’s biggest player in terms of the fur farming and fur trade. With more than 60% in fur pelts production in 2009, the European fur-farming sector is the worldwide leader and supports rural development in Europe. In addition, 100s of the most important European design houses feature fur prominently in their collections as European designers continue to lead the fashion world. The fur trade is comprised of 1000s of SME’s supporting jobs, growth and sustainability here in Europe. When you support the fur trade and fur farming you are supporting these important social and economic goals.
Best practice labelling
Labelling schemes can be used very effectively to raise consumer awareness and choice. As a responsible sector we have been at the forefront of promoting consumer information through labelling. The independently monitored Origin Assured programme is a successful example, giving consumers assurance that any fur which bears an OA™ mark has originated from a country where national or local regulations or standards governing fur production are in force. We would like to ask you to promote and support consumer labelling schemes as they help everyone - consumers, animals, producers, employers and trade.
Animal Welfare
The fur farming is regulated at EU level and welfare standards for animals are among the best in the world. EFBA works with the European Institutions to promote best practice in animal welfare and this year, is launching its WelFur initiative. The general objective of this WelFur project is to set-up a welfare-quality-like project on fur-farmed animals: minks, foxes, finn raccoons. We would like you to support this initiative as it is the continuation of the EU Welfare Quality® project for the non-food farmed animals
International Standards & Trade
Co-operation by the international community and international institutions is essential to raising animal welfare standards throughout the world. We strongly urge you to lead by example and call for international standards to be based on science. In the course of this Parliament you will have to deal with the application of the International Agreement on Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS) within the European Union. Our partner signatory nations (Canada and Russia) to this important agreement have already begun its implementation.
