A PROMINENT Perth sporran maker said yesterday a mooted ban on the trade in sealskin would have very little effect on true Scottish craftsmen.

Marcus Eagleton of Scottish Sporrans said he uses so few sealskins, the proposed EU embargo will have little effect, although it could force mass-producers to look elsewhere for their material.

It emerged yesterday European environment commissioner, Stavros Dimas is examining a total import ban on products derived from seals that have been killed in a cruel way.

The government and animal rights groups welcomed the move, although some Highland dress sellers suggested it would be the death knell for a way of life which sees a majority of fur sporrans made from sealskin.

But Mr Eagleton, who makes hand-stitched sporrans to order and has done so for the likes of the Beckhams and film star Samuel L. Jackson, said there would be little impact.

He said, “I only use seal- skin which is sourced legitimately and from seals which have only died a natural death so it should have no impact on me.

“The trade in fur is so regulated now and the likes of badger and fox fur can only come from animals which have died naturally and I get certificates and paperwork to prove that.”

Under the Brussels plan, trade in seal products would be allowed from countries which can guarantee hunting techniques follow high welfare standards.

Kilt hire outlets in the Dundee area also felt that any ban would not have any noticeable impact on trade.

Kim Burnett, manageress of McCalls in Broughty Ferry, said, “Ninety-nine per cent of our customers are not too bothered as they know the seals aren’t killed purely for sporrans.”

A ban would see an increase in the number of leather and synthetic sporrans but Sandra Baird, manageress of Kilt Co in Dundee, said that this would not be a problem.

She added, “We’ve only ever had one customer return a sporran after seeing a video on the internet of a seal being culled. Otherwise, it’s never really been an issue.”

Ross Minett, the campaigns director at campaign group Advocates for Animals, however, said, “The wearing of fur generally in Scotland is seen as unacceptable by the majority of the public.

“I think most people aren’t aware that sporrans in this country were made from seals clubbed in Canadian seal hunts.”