A campaign to ban cat and dog fur imports was launched today and Green Party MP Sue Kedgley has drafted a bill to amend the Customs Act.
The campaign was launched in Auckland by animal welfare groups.
Ms Kedgley said the European Union, Australia and the United States had all moved to prohibit imports of cat and dog fur.
"We need to do the same," she said.
"Otherwise we will become a dumping ground for this unethical trade as markets are closed in other countries."
Ms Kedgley said a Humane Society investigation had uncovered a substantial unregulated international trade in cat and dog fur, based in Asia.
"Each year, more than two million cats and dogs are raised in appalling conditions and brutally slaughtered for their pelts," she said.
"The fur is then used to make clothes, toys and trinkets. Dog pelts are even made into chew toys for dogs."
She said there was no way for New Zealand consumers to be certain they were not buying products made from cat or dog fur.
"Most cat and dog fur is deliberately disguised and sold using false or incorrect labelling.
"An inexpensive DNA test is available so that customs officials could readily identify cat or dog fur at the border."
Ms Kedgley's member's bill would amend the Customs Act by adding cat and dog fur to the schedule of prohibited imports.
It will go into the member's bill ballot box in Parliament.
After that it is the luck of the draw. Bills are drawn from the ballot when there is room for them on the order paper -- some come out quickly but others have stayed in the box for years.
NZPA