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US retail giants to boycott Indian leather

Retail giants Eddie Bauer, L L Bean, Timberland and Casual Corner have decided to boycott Indian leather until the Government of India takes steps to "enforce basic animal protection laws".

Gap Inc, J Crew, Liz Claiborne and Florsheim have already boycotted Indian leather.

Eddie Bauer announced the boycott following a campaign by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the world's largest animal rights organisation, which documented the "extreme cruelty" to animals in India.

"We are committed to not making products from animal skins and hides sourced from India until we receive credible assurance that animal protection laws are being enforced in the country," Eddie Bauer executive Lurma Rackley said.

"At Eddie Bauer, we believe that animals should be treated humanely under all circumstances."

Bauer is the leading supplier of leather to the automobile industry.

Timberland executives said that they would end their contract with an Indian tannery before October 1.

"Our decision to boycott Indian leather comes not from a business standpoint, but a personal one. These practices are wrong and must stop at once," PETA quoted Steve Latham, chief executive of Travel 2000, as saying.

PETA officials said laws governing the slaughter of cattle in India, although strict, remain on the statute books.

Officials of the rights organisation claimed to have documented instances of animals being skinned alive, cows and buffaloes having their eyes smeared with chilli peppers and tobacco and their throats hacked with blunt blades.

"Indian officials are trying to sleep during this crisis, but we are determined to wake them," said PETA official Jason Baker.

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