Welsh Electric Collar Ban Will Be Challenged
Published on November 4, 2008 by Freelance Contributors · 3 CommentsThe Electronic Collars Manufacturers Association (ECMA) have stepped up their effort to overturn the proposed ban of the use of electronic training collars in Wales.
The organisation has filed an application in the High Court of Justice seeking a Judicial Review of the decision by the Welsh Assembly Government to take necessary steps to ban electronic training collars from being used in Wales.
The application is the latest move by ECMA in response to the Welsh Assembly Government. Soon after the announcement in June it condemned the Welsh Assembly proposal as hasty, premature and unnecessary.
ECMA claims that the Welsh proposal is based on the misreading of available science, some of which is biased by the prejudging attitude of researchers. Much of the available research is also limited in range and scope and has even been rejected by DEFRA at Westminster.
In response to requests to ban the products the UK Government recently invested £469,000 of taxpayers’ money in its own scientific research study into the implications of these devices, due to be completed in 2010.
The UK Government stated:
“While we are aware of a number of scientific studies on electric shock collars, Defra considers that to date those studies published in this area are not sufficiently robust and that the evidence base needs to be built on before consideration can be given to either banning or regulating their use. The government is not prepared to do this unless there is clear evidence that these devices in themselves are harmful to welfare”.
ECMA firmly believes that the Welsh Assembly Government should take a similar line.
ECMA has been established to promote the safe and responsible use of electronic pet training equipment. By purchasing ECMA approved products, pet owners can be assured that the products they are buying are designed by pet lovers with pet safety in mind.
Duncan McNair for ECMA said:
“ECMA believes that not only was the decision of the Welsh Assembly Government against the interests of good animal welfare but also that it was irrational and was based on flawed scientific evidence and wholly inadequate investigation of actual results with the collars .
“This concern was increased by some of the inaccurate and emotive statements made by Members of the Assembly in response to the announcement by the Minister.
“We are hopeful that the High Court will grant permission for the Judicial Review to take place so this misconceived decision can be quashed”.
Highly Recommended: This could be the most important link you EVER click as far as your dog’s life is concerned – see why….!
I hope the ban is over ruled as I think the collar can give a lot of freedom to problem dogs & cure the problem of dogs chasing livestock.
have these people never used these things on them selves, they hurt!!! they need to be banned. would thy electrocute their children?? i doubt it, there are kinder and more effective means of training, cant believe these monstrosities were ever created anyway.
In my past, whenever a request was made to use one the person requesting had to be on the receiving end first.
They were only ever used as a last resort when all other avenues had failed.
I do know of several working dogs who’s lives were saved because permission was given to use a collar. If the final option hadn’t worked the dogs would have had to be euthanased.