CRUELTY OF FOIE GRAS MUST END

1.25.41pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 1st Aug 2007

Liz Lynne MEP is urging the European Union to ban the practice of force-feeding used in the production of foie gras.

Many European countries have moved to ban the 'delicacy' already but France, where 90% of all foie gras is produced and eaten, has not done so. Production is banned in the UK, but its import is still allowed.

Speaking today, Liz said:

"It is shocking that despite the many advances made in farming practice and against animal cruelty, that this is allowed to continue in many parts of Europe."

"I fear that many UK consumers do not realise what foie gras production entails but nevertheless the tide of public opinion is beginning to turn against this so-called delicacy and the sickening practices involved.

"I support the latest campaigns to for a Europe-wide ban and will raise the subject in the European Parliament at the next opportunity."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Liz Lynne is a long-time campaigner on animal rights issues and recently contributed to the debate and signed the written declaration leading to a ban on the import of cat and dog fur into the European Union.

Compassion in World Farming (www.ciwf.org.uk) and Ban Foie Gras (http://www.banfoiegras.org.uk/) are active in pursuing a ban.

Nationally, a House of Commons Early Day Motion (1247) has also called on the government to consider a ban on foie gras sales in the UK.

In producing foie gras, ducks and geese are closely confined for several weeks and force fed with a pipe, swelling their livers to 10 times the normal size, at times causing disease, haemorrhaging, and cardiac or renal failure. Accommodation of the birds also raises concerns, many being kept in cages in which they cannot stand up.