SALE OF FOIE GRAS

Early day motion 1247, tabled 28 March 2007 by Hugh Bayley (Labour). Signed by 158 members.

That this House notes that in order to produce the food delicacy foie gras, 12 week old ducks and geese are restrained and grain is forced down the throat through a gavage pipe, a process that often results in physical injury; observes that a massive quantity of food is forced into the birds causing their livers to swell to six to 10 times normal size, making movement and breathing difficult, and leading to severe liver damage, great pain, and high mortality rates; further notes that existing UK animal welfare laws prohibit such cruel farming methods; considers that a prohibition on the sale of foie gras in the UK would be compatible with the EC Treaty and the rules of the World Trade Organisation both of which permit restrictions on grounds of public morality; applauds the efforts of the website www.banfoiegras.org.uk to educate and encourage members of the public to press for foie gras to be banned; and calls upon the Government to prohibit the sale of foie gras in the UK.

Signatures by party: Labour 114, Liberal Democrat 27, Conservative 8, DUP 2, Independent 2, Scottish National Party 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, UUP 1.