ALTERNATIVES TO BEAR BILE

Early day motion 739, tabled 19 November 2012 by Adrian Sanders (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 32 members.

That this House is concerned that approximately 20,000 bears are currently kept in captivity to harvest bile, a digestive juice produced by the liver and stored in the gall bladder that when extracted is a valuable commodity for sale as an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine; recognises the work being carried out by the World Society for the Protection of Animals and others to improve welfare conditions for these bears; and calls on the Government to engage with the traditional Asian medicine community to promote herbal and synthetic alternatives to bear bile.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 12, Labour 11, Conservative 2, DUP 2, Alliance 1, Green 1, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Respect 1.