Newsletter de l'Institut Canadien de la Fourrure

[Animal 0]

:evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

http://www.fur.ca/index-e/news/index.asp?action=news&page=newsletter#Growth

The European Union struggles with the AIHTS
Communique, News and Information from the Fur Institute of Canada (online
newsletter)
Spring, 2005

When the Fur Institute of Canada was established by the Council of Canadian
Wildlife Ministers in 1983, one of the primary charges to the new
organization was to continue the research and development of humane trapping
systems. This research work played a major role in the development of the
Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS) in 1997 between
Canada, Russia and the European Union. Following the ratification of the
AIHTS in 1999 (Canada and EU), the FIC was assigned the coordinating role
for implementation of the AIHTS in Canada.

Canada has taken its international commitment seriously. The Canadian
Government, through Environment Canada, Foreign Affairs and Indian and
Northern Affairs, have led the way with investments of $8 million (Cdn)
since ratification, while the Provincial and Territorial Governments, who
are responsible for wildlife management in Canada, spend over $2 million per
year implementing the requirements of the Agreement. The International Fur
Trade Federation has invested significantly to the world leading Canadian
program. In Canada, all of the foundation requirements of the AIHTS have
been completed. Trapping regulations across Canada have changed and will
change further in 2007 when the AIHTS comes into force in Canada.

Sadly, the European Union has done little to meet the requirements of the
Agreement. They recently drafted the Directive, for approval by the European
parliament, to implement the Agreement across the twenty-five EU member
states. To date, they have no coordinated program for EU-wide
implementation, and minimal research has been conducted on traps used for
trapping over 5 million animals annually throughout the EU. Yet, some
Members of the European Parliament have suggested that the AIHTS is not
strong enough and should go further. Some have suggested the AIHTS, an
internationally ratified treaty, should be rejected, or that pest control,
most of the trapping in the EU, should be exempt from the Standard.
Remember, Council Regulation 3254/91 that could ban Canadian fur and fur
products remains in place and would be enforced if no International
Standards exist.

Initially those involved in the Canadian implementation process were
perplexed by the European position. The Agreement has the most broadly
applied standards found anywhere in the world in relation to the trapping of
animals, and provides for the their ongoing development over time, based on
scientific research. It is now clear that animal rights groups are behind
various EU Member of Parliament statements and Parliamentary Committee
briefings condemning the Agreement.

We did not expect animal rights groups to support an international treaty
that regulates the trapping of furbearers. This would undermine their
lobbying efforts to raise money and continue their fight to outlaw the fur
trade. Where they seem to have shown some success is in degrading the status
of wildlife to that of a 'pest', something that does not sit well with
anyone who respects wildlife. Five times more animals are trapped in the EU
than Canada, mainly under pest control programs funded through Government
programs. In many cases the whole animal is discarded.
The Fur Institute of Canada, along with the Government of Canada and the
International Fur Trade Federation, will continue its efforts to educate
European Union and EU Member State Members of Parliament on the world
leading efforts of Canada in improving animal welfare in the trapping of
animals and on the environmental, social and economic importance of wildlife
to the people of Canada.

Rob Cahill
Executive Director