For this declaration to become European Union policy it needs to receive the support of over 367 MEPs across Europe. There are 732 MEPs across Europe, so we need to get the backing of over half of them.

Once we have this, the President of the European Parliament will write to the Chinese Government calling for an end to bear farming in China. This would be a major step forward to encouraging the Chinese government to end this practice once and for all.

Known as ‘Moon’ Bears for the beautiful golden crescent across their chests, these Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) listed endangered bears are subjected to a lifetime of torture and misery.

The Bears are ‘milked’ for their bile using horrific methods of bile extraction that cause severe mental and unimaginable physical pain. The bile is used in Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM); however, there are over fifty herbal and synthetic products available that are cheaper and equally efficacious.

About the Declaration
The Declaration calls on the Chinese Government to initiate a countrywide ban on breeding bears on farms. It also calls for a clear time-limit for the end of bear farming and that the Chinese Government work with the AAF in accelerating the closure of all bear farms through programmes benefiting bears currently held captive and farmers reliant on the industry.

If you live in the EU area please write to your MEP asking him or her to sign this declaration. If you can write please cc Dave Neale at Animals Asia (dneale[nospam]@animalsasia.org

To find your MEP and their email address please visit
 http://www.europarl.eu.int/members/public.do?language=en

If you live in the UK you can find details of your MEPs and email them through this website www.writetothem.com

Declaration details for your letter EU declaration (0052/2005) on Rising International Concern over the Farming of Bear Bile in Chinese issued by MEPs David Martin, Neil Parrish, Peter Skinner, Robert Evans and Terence Wynn

For more information about Bear Bile Farming visit  http://www.animalsasia.org