Marks & Spencer is to stop selling clothes made with Indian leather because of concerns about the treatment of cows in the region.
The UK-based retail chain said it had taken the decision because of concerns over the welfare of the animals while in transit to distant abattoirs.
‘We were satisfied that the cows our suppliers used were sent to local abattoirs in reasonable conditions,’ said M&S.
‘However, we can’t be there all the time to monitor the situation and we decided we weren’t prepared to take the risk that there could be animal welfare implications’, it added.
The US-based animal rights pressure group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals had targeted M&S in its campaign to persuade clothes retailers to boycott the Indian leather market.
Last year Gap, Liz Claiborne, the J Grew Group, the Florsheim Group and C & J Clark announced bans on Indian leather (EP2, 2000; EP3, 2000).
M&S has halted the closure of 18 stores across Europe after protests that it had acted in an irresponsible manner by not consulting staff about alternatives (EP3, 2001). The stores will still be closed next year if a buyer cannot be found.