http://wire.ap.org/APnews/main.html?FRONTID=NATIONAL&STORYID=APIS77JNKB80 OCTOBER 13, 17:10 EDT Bill Bans Dog, Cat Fur Imports WASHINGTON (AP) — Imports of products made from dog and cat fur would be banned under legislation that passed the Senate Friday. The fur measure, part of a larger trade bill, also requires the labeling of all fur products regardless of price. The bill must go back to the House for approval before being sent to the president for his signature. The Humane Society of the United States in the past has protested what it said was an extensive international trade in pelts of domesticated dogs. Two years ago Burlington Coat Factory, the nation's largest coat retailer, pulled hundreds of men's parkas from its stores after learning that the coats included fur from dogs in China. Senate Finance Committee Chairman William Roth, R-Del., author of the dog and cat fur ban, said the trade bill also includes a ban on the importing of ``gray market'' cigarettes. Such cigarettes, which may account for as much as 14 percent of all sales in the United States, are manufactured abroad and bear U.S.-registered trademarks. The imports undermine funding for the states' tobacco settlement funds and potentially evade federal health requirements. Another provision of the bill temporarily suspends tariffs on the imports of two HIV-fighting drugs, DPC 961 and DPC 083. ——— The bill is H.R. 4868. On the Net: Search for bills at: http://thomas.loc.gov/ Copyright 2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
