Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 26 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 7 December 2004. It was answered by Douglas Alexander (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 December 2004 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what recent assessment she has made of the accuracy of scientific testing to determine whether products contain (a) cat and (b) dog fur; and if she will make a statement. - Inc ref to 28 January 2004, 417 c11-2WS.

Answer: Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of the accuracy of scientific testing to determine whether products contain (a) cat and (b) dog fur; and if she will make a statement. [200977] Mr. Alexander: The DTI has been working with the Laboratory of Government Chemist Limited (LGC) to establish a scientific test which can readily determine between different species of fur. As reported by the then Minister for Trade and Investment (the hon. Member for East Ham) in a written statement to the House on 28 January 2004, Official Report, columns 11-12WS. The first test trialled was unsatisfactory because industrial processing of fur tends to destroy its DNA. LGC Limited went on to test a technology which requires less DNA. Initial tests were disappointing but suggested that this method should not be discounted. During the course of this year, we understand the methodology has been refined and I have commissioned work to test the method again to establish whether its reliability has improved. I will report on the results of these tests in a written statement to the House in the new year.

Secondary information