Agriculture Group
FUR FARMING (CONSULTATION)
Below is a copy of a consultation letter issued on 10 March 2000 to the attached distribution list of interested organisations.
Dear Sir/Madam
Our ref: PCB/40/3
10 March 2000
Ross Finnie, Minister for Rural Affairs announced on 3 December 1999 that the Scottish Executive would be introducing a Fur Farming Bill in Scotland. This follows publication of a Fur Farming Bill for England and Wales on 23 November 1999. Introducing a ban in Scotland would ensure that any existing fur farming businesses in England and Wales could not relocate to Scotland. Currently there are no fur farms in Scotland and the proposed legislation would additionally prevent any such business being established in Scotland in any other circumstances.
The keeping of mink for fur is controlled by two pieces of legislation that are intended to ensure that mink are kept in secure conditions. These are:
The Mink Keeping Regulations 1975 (made under the Destructive Imported Animals Act 1932) which prescribe the manner in which mink must be kept and the precautions that must be taken to prevent their escape; and
The Mink Keeping Order 1997 (made under the Destructive Imported Animals Act 1932) which prohibits the keeping of mink except under licence.
The proposed Bill would:
- prohibit the establishment of any new mink fur farms;
- prohibit the keeping of all animals with a view to their slaughter solely or primarily for the value of their fur;
- prohibit the keeping for fur of Arctic fox (Alopex lagopas), racoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), sable (Martes zibellina) and fisher (Marles pennanti); and
- permit the keeping of all these species (ie mink, Arctic fox, racoon dog, sable and fisher) for scientific research, rehabilitation and exhibition (zoos).
The purpose of this letter is to seek your comments on these proposals. Some of you were consulted in August 1997 when MAFF carried out a Great Britain wide Review of the Mink Keeping Order 1992. As part of his announcement Mr Finnie indicated that consultation would be undertaken and that he would welcome any comments on the contents of the proposed Scottish Bill. These should be sent to Mrs E A McCudden, SERAD, Room 113 at the below address by 28 April 2000.
Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department
Agriculture Group
Pentland House
47 Robb's Loan
Edinburgh
EH14 1TY
Welfare standards for mink and other animals farmed for fur are covered by separate legislation which is not the subject of this consultation exercise.
In line with the Executive’s policy of openness, we intend, at the end of the consultation period, to make the consultation paper and copies of the responses we receive, publicly available through the Library at Saughton House. It will be assumed, therefore, that your response can be made publicly available in this way unless you clearly indicate that you wish all or part of your response to be excluded from this arrangement. The library will supply copies of the responses on request to personal callers or telephone enquirers (Tel: 0131 244 8455). An administrative charge, to cover the cost of photocopying and postage, may be applied.
Yours faithfully
Frances M Reid
Distribution list of interested organisations
- Advocates for Animals
- Anglers Conservation Association
- Anglers Co-operative Conservation Association
- Association of Conservation Officers
- Association of Directors and River Inspectors in Scotland
- Association of Drainage Authorities
- Association of Salmon Fishery Boards
- Association of Still Water Game Fishery Managers
- Association of West Coast Fishery Trusts
- Atlantic Salmon Trust
- Beauty Without Cruelty
- Birdlife International
- British Association for Nature Conservationists
- British Association for Shooting and Conservation
- British Ecological Society
- British Field Sports Society
- British Fur Trader' Association
- British Naturalists Association
- British Pest Control Association
- British Retail Consortium
- British Trust for Ornithology
- British Trout Association
- British Waterways Board
- Care for the Wild
- Central Council for Physical Recreation
- Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Managers
- Commercial Coarse Fisheries Association
- Compassion in World Farming
- Conservation Foundation
- Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
- Countryside Alliance
- Crofters Commission
- Crown Estate Office
- East of Scotland Water Authority
- Ecos Environmental Control Systems Ltd
- FOE Scotland
- Faculty of Advocates
- Farm and Food Society
- Farm Animal Welfare Council
- Farm Animal Welfare Network
- Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group
- Fauna and Flora Preservation Society
- Forestry Authority
- Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory
- Fur Breeders Association of the UK
- Game Conservancy Trust
- Historic Scotland
- Highlands & Islands Enterprise
- Institute of Fisheries Management
- Institute of Terrestrial Ecology
- International Fund for Animal Welfare
- International Fur Trade Federation
- League Against Cruel Sports
- Macaulay Land Use Research Institute
- Mammal Society
- National Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives
- National Farmers Union of Scotland
- National Federation of Anglers
- National Pest Technician' Association
- National Trust for Scotland
- National Zoological Society
- North of Scotland Water Authority
- Otter Trust
- Respect for Animals
- Royal Society for Nature Conservation
- Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
- Salmon and Trout Association
- Scottish Anglers National Association
- Scottish Association for Country Sports
- Scottish Crofters' Union
- Scottish Environment Link
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency
- Scottish Landowners Federation
- Scottish Natural Heritage
- Scottish Quality Salmon
- Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
- Scottish Wildlife Trust
- Scottish Shellfish Growers Association
- Shetland Salmon Farmers Association
- West of Scotland Water Authority
- Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
- Women' Farming Union
- Women' National Commission
- World Society for the Protection of Animals
- World Wide Fund for Nature
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