http://www.iftf.com/iftf_3_1_1.php?id=161

Fur Trade applauds Russia for signing up to international welfare standard and calls for more countries to join
Vladimir Putin, on behalf of the Russian Federation, became the latest signatory to ratify the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS) into law on 26th April.

The AIHTS is the first international agreement ever related to the welfare of trapped animals (for pest control, food or fur). The Agreement sets down strict standards and scientific tests to ensure that the highest available welfare standard is met and continues to be met as technology develops, by trappers in Canada, the EU and now Russia. (A similar agreement exists between the EU and the US).

The International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF) has been a major financial contributor to trapping research for some 30 years and a strong supporter of the AIHTS. The IFTF has actively encouraged Russia’s participation in AIHTS and warmly welcomes this development.

“Trapping takes place in virtually every country in the world for various reasons”, says Andreas Lenhart, IFTF Chairman; “The IFTF has been a long-time advocate of the AIHTS as a proper standard aiming to ensure that whether an animal is trapped for pest control, food or fur, a high level of animal welfare is provided. We applaud Russia for ratifying the Agreement and hope that more countries will now join and make a similar commitment.”