Seal skin ban threatens sporrans

HIGHLAND dress shops could be hit by confusing plans to ban the sale of seal skins, according to the Conservative Party.

The Tories want guidance to be published to clear up confusion before a proposed ban on sale or rental comes into force in August.

Conservative MSP Nanette Milne said: "Under the SNP proposals, retailers and sporran manufacturers will not be able to sell or rent sealskin sporrans, and it is still unclear if they will be able to carry on using their current stock."

George Bowden, of Highland dress firm Bowdens of Edinburgh, said: "I'm a small business and I carry nearly 200 sporrans. I most certainly do not have the capital to replace them all at one time. If there is a blanket ban from August, we will have a problem."

Manufacturers have up to 18 months' worth of skins in stock and may not survive if they have to write them off, he said.