India has finally banned the importation of reptile skins and certain furs. After many efforts from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and other animal advocates, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued a notification of India’s modified trade policy.
The notification includes the prohibition of the importation of reptile skins, as well as chinchilla, mink and fox furs.
PETA India previously wrote a letter to the Inspector General of Forests in the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) back in 2014 and had communicated with Union Minister Maneka Gandhi regarding banning the importation of all sorts of exotic skins and fur products.
In 2015, PETA India met with the Minister of State (Independent of Charge) for the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoCI), Nirmala Sitharaman, and urged her to officially issue the ban.
Later, the MoCI pursued comments from the MoEFCC, which – according to PETA India – “ultimately agreed to prohibit the importation of certain items, and the DGFT issued the ban.”
It’s great to see India is making ethical decisions!
#peta #animalrights
