The myths behind the International Humane Trapping Standardsand EU developments

Following a public outcry, the use ofleghold traps in the European Union was prohibited in1995. A ban on the import of pelts from 13 species ofanimals from countries which had not also banned the use of theleghold trap never entered into force.

Instead in 1996, the EU signed an internationalagreement with Canada, the United States and Russia ?which has yet to ratify - on so-called humane trapping standardsaffecting 19 species of wild animals. In 1997, the EuropeanParliament rejected the agreements, evaluating the contentas mainly driven by trade considerations and lacking in scientificbase and animal welfare concerns. At the same time, severalauthoritative scientific opinions confirmed that the humanetrapping methods provided for in the Agreement did not excludeunacceptable levels of suffering.

Notwithstanding the European Parliament?s opposition, the EUratified the agreements in 1998, in order to translate theircontents into EU law. In 2004, the European Commission thereforeproposed a Directive introducing humane trapping standards forcertain animal species. In October 2005, the Environment Committeeof the European Parliament rejected the draft Directive for itslack of a scientific base and compliance with existing EU law, aswell as its many loopholes. Following this, in November2005 the European Parliament, voting in plenary session, confirmedits previous position by rejecting the Proposal and askedthe Commission to withdraw it.

IFAW, together with Eurogroup for Animal Welfare, has recently commissioned the scientific report Trapped by bad science ? the myths behind the International Humane Trapping Standards. This review concludes that

?the proposed Directive fails to achieve theproposed aims of improving welfare of trapped animals and wouldhave a negative impact on the protection and conservation ofnon-target species?.

• Read the summary of the report (PDF - 299KB)
• Read the full report (PDF - 1.6 MB)
• EP stands up for animals ?trapped by bad science?

IFAW would like to see new European legislation based on bestscience and setting high standards of animal welfare.