A petition calling for a ban on fur and foie gras imports in the UK has surpassed 200,000 signatures. Television wildlife presenter Chris Packham started the Change petition in February following reports the government was planning to scrap proposals to outlaw the trade.
Farming animals for fur and force-feeding geese and ducks to produce foie gras are banned in the UK, but some products can be imported and sold in shops. Packham urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to bring an end to what he called the "obscene double-standard", adding: "There is no place in modern Britain for fur or foie gras, both of which are products of appalling cruelty."
A UK government spokesperson said no decisions have yet been made and any future decisions will be based on evidence. Measures to stop imports were due to be introduced in the government's flagship Animals Abroad Bill, which has faced delays. The draft bill – one of three in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' Action Plan for Animal Welfare – also planned to ban the trade of hunting trophies and advertising of elephant rides.
Brexit Opportunities Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg is among the Cabinet members who have expressed concerns that a ban would limit personal choice, according to BBC News. The broadcaster reported in February that Rees-Mogg believes the proposal would have no impact on animal welfare in the UK.
In the petition, Packham wrote that morals should outweigh any argument regarding personal choice. He said: "The reality is that only a tiny minority of people want to buy fur and foie gras, but more importantly in a civilised society freedom of choice cannot be allowed to trump moral decency.
"We don't allow the freedom of choice to import elephant ivory, or whale meat, or seal, dog or cat fur, because all these things are unutterably immoral. So too is causing animals enormous pain and suffering for frivolous fur and foie gras."
Campaign group Animal Equality UK said an estimated 10 to 70 million ducks and geese are force-fed to produce foie gras across the EU every year. Executive director Abigail Penny described the luxury food product as "immensely cruel".
A UK government spokesperson said: “This government is united in its commitment to upholding its world-leading standards in animal welfare. Our Action Plan for Animal Welfare sets 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.”
