Commitment to ban fur and foie gras imports takes a back seat, minister admits

A promise to ban imports of fur and foie gras was effectively dropped after a cabinet revolt, a government minister has confirmed.

Zac Goldsmith promised the restrictions - once hailed as a key post - Brexit Freedom - would go ahead next year, insisting he was "fully committed" to them.

But the Environment Secretary has now admitted the government was simply considering 'any further steps that might be taken' and 'potential action' on the controversies.

The raid follows objections from right-wing cabinet ministers including Jacob Rees-Mogg , which derailed legislation promised earlier this year.

Kerry McCarthy, Labour's shadow climate change minister said: "We were told that after Brexit we would be able to regain control and ban imports of foie gras and fur, but Jacob Rees Mogg et al got really upset then."

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The MP criticized Lord Goldsmith for only responding to a letter sent in April after the MPs have left Westminster for their summer vacation.

Animal rights activists also fear they will lose a champion when Boris Johnson's wife Carrie leaves Downing Street with him in September.

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The production of fur and foie gras is already banned in the UK, but the government had promised to ban trade in the products to prevent cruelty to animals.

A plan to action last year highlighted the end of the post-Brexit transition period in January 2021 as an opportunity to extend "existing import restrictions on seal, cat and animal fur". e dog".

On foie gras from force-fed ducks or geese, he said: "We are committed to building clear evidence base to inform decisions on import ban or the sale of foie gras.

In May, even after the legislation was excluded from the Queen's Speech, Lord Goldsmith said he was "absolutely confident" that the bans would stand, saying: "There are many different ways to get it through [parliament]."

But, in a letter to Ms McCarthy, the peer wrote that the government is only "considering any further action that might be taken in relation to foie gras".

On fur, he said: "We have issued a call to action on the fur sector as well as other forms of engagement with interested parties and will publish the result in due course of course."

Dozens of Britain's leading animal charities had protested the withdrawal of the Animals Abroad Bill, dismayed by the threatens years of their fight for repression.

The bill would have also banned advertising of cruel tourism activities abroad, such as elephant rides and elephant entertainment spots.

And he pledged to target hunters in the United Kingdom who travel overseas, often to southern Africa, and pay thousands of pounds to legally cull lions, elephants and even baboons.

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Lord Goldsmith said banning trophies would continue, with the government giving time to a backbench bill introduced by Tory MP Henry Smith.

But he said the government was "only exploring options" to ban advertising "unacceptable welfare activities involving wild animals".