NEW DELHI : The Directorate General of Foreign Trade has banned the import of skins of reptiles, mink, fox and chinchillas. A notification was issued in this regard by the Ministry of Commerce.
The matter was taken up by Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi, who wrote a letter to Minister of State for Commerce Nirmala Sitharama, pressing the need to curb cruelty towards animals by prohibiting the import of exotic skins.
The Ministry of Environment and Forest and the Animal Welfare Board of India further supported the need to impose the ban. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 allows the slaughter of animals only for subsistence, and this too is regulated to minimise the pain and suffering of animals.
Lauding this policy stance that is in consonance with the anti-cruelty laws of India, People For Animals trustee Gauri Maulekhi said, “We commend the Directorate General of Foreign Trade and the environment ministry for its firm commitment in abolishing the import of exotic skins.”
“The exotic fur, skin and leather industry slaughters, bludgeons and skins millions of animals every year in the name of frivolous fashion. Nations across the world are switching to cruelty-free alternatives and we are glad that India is gradually emulating similar policies to reduce and eliminate unnecessary pain and suffering to animals,” she said.