Heather Mills McCartney, the second wife of ex-Beatle Sir Paul, and Rick Wakeman of the rock group Yes called for a ban on cat and dog fur trade across European Union on Tuesday. While making a statement, the former model and long-term human-rights activist was holding a coat made from the skins of 42 Alsatian puppies in her hands.

"I became aware of this (trade) only four months ago," she said at a news conference at the European Parliament in Brussels. "It was a big shock to myself and my family considering my husband and his late wife Linda were involved in animal rights ... and none of them knew about the dog and cat fur exports from China and the fact that Europe (is) importing it."

"It's barbaric that this is going on."

According to Mrs. McCartney and Mr. Wakeman, who were supporting Tory Euro MP Struan Stevenson's anti-trade campaign, 2 million cats and dogs are killed annually for their fur, mostly in China, which is imported into Europe under false labels, or no labels at all, as the fur from wolves and foxes.

The video shown during the campaign, depicted emaciated dogs and cats kept in dark, cramped rooms and cages, as well as the slaughter of a German shepherd. Lots of animals are skinned while still alive.

"I couldn't sleep for two months" after watching the video, European Parliament member Straun Stevenson told AP.

In the United States, Australia and some EU member nations like Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece and Italy such fur trade has already been outlawed. But the activists, who have been campaigning for five years, want the ban to be extended to all 25 EU nations by the EU head office. However, the EU claims it has no authority to bring in a ban.