Local Markets Go Fur Free

CJ's Events Warwickshire Limited joins flagship Fur Free Markets scheme.

CJ's Events Warwickshire has signed up to Respect for Animals' Fur Free Market scheme to ban the sale of real fur at all of its future markets and events.

The company works in partnership with Warwick District Council to deliver their weekly retail & monthly farmers markets across the district.

This move will reassure consumers who visit their markets that any items on sale should not be made from real fur and that they are not at risk of accidentally supporting the cruel and unnecessary fur industry.

The selling of real fur at markets, especially Christmas markets, has become a major problem in recent years. Many customers have no idea that they are buying real fur, which comes from animals raised and killed in appalling conditions.

Respect for Animals has documented numerous cases where, for instance, hats with real fur bobbles and fake fur bobbles are being sold at the same market, unlabelled, for the same price. Real fur can now be imported very cheaply from countries such as China, where there is virtually no enforced animal welfare legislation. Last winter, Respect for Animals received numerous complaints from members of the public about the selling of real fur at their local winter markets.

To counter this, the Fur Free Markets scheme has been developed. All councils in the country have been contacted about their fur policy and given a star rating on an online database. Councils and private market operators who join the Fur Free Markets programme receive a 5 Star Rating. Markets that are officially designated Fur Free Markets have the gold standard of assurance for consumers concerned about accidentally buying real fur. The scheme is free to market operators and offers exclusive use of branding and assistance with testing of suspected fur items.

Jamie Walker, Company Director said: "CJ's Events Warwickshire is currently reviewing its policies. We're pleased to have been approached by Respect For Animals to join the Fur Free Markets Scheme. Here at CJ's Events Warwickshire we realise real fur is cruel and unnecessary. Although we encourage small independent businesses to sell exclusive products, we do not feel fur has a place at our markets or events and will work closely with traders to ensure no fur products are sold."

Mark Glover, Campaign Director at Respect for Animals, said: "We have become increasingly alarmed about real fur items being sold at markets around the country. Much of this fur is not labelled as real fur and many consumers are horrified that they risk buying items in the belief they are buying fake fur. It's not good enough to just expect consumers to be vigilant on their own, so we are working with highly professional market operators, such as CJ's Events Warwickshire, to reassure shoppers and stop the barbaric fur industry from creeping into fashion. "Our campaign for 'Fur Free Markets' is creating a lot of interest amongst market operators and we expect more high-profile participants in time for this year's Christmas market season. We are confident it will help end this part of the cruel and unnecessary fur trade.

For more information, please contact Mark Glover on 07850 768337 OR 0115 9525440

Notes

The new Fur Free Markets webpage and Local Authority responses can be found at www.respectforanimals.org/fur-free-markets which gives each council a star rating.

Respect for Animals supports the enforcement of the Fur Free Markets policy by microscopically testing dubious items free of charge.

Respect for Animals is the UK's leading anti-fur organisation. It led the campaign that ended fur farming in the UK and was at the forefront of successful campaigns to ban the import of dog and cat fur and the products from commercial seal hunts into the European Union.

Approximately 100 million animals are killed each year just for their fur.