The rearranged 2003 meeting of the International Council of Tanners was held in Bologna on October 27. Although the timing of the meeting meant some members were unable to attend, those present formulated a challenging strategy for the future.

A major item for discussion was how to respond to the resignation of several of the European members, and a series of objectives and activities highlighted strategy for the future. These included addressing the revision of the International Contracts and actively seeking negotiations with ICHSLTA; the circulation of a regular series of bulletins over the year covering technical, commercial and members’ reports; expanding activities to protect and promote leather, including the development of position papers to counter threats to the industry; exploring the feasibility of a joint meeting, seminar and visit programme in China in 2005; continuing to develop the fundamental roles of offering a forum for exchanging information between members, and providing an interface with international bodies such as ICHSLTA, UNIDO, UNEP, FAO, IULTCS, ISO; and to continue to promote free trade as far as practically possible, while aware that ICT cannot commit national governments to action.

State of trade reports indicated that, after several very difficult years, the overall situation was set to improve. Broadly, the position in Europe remained challenging, with ever increasing environmental pressures; the situation in Japan was difficult with capacity in the industry continuing to reduce; but the industry in Brazil was expanding, with an increasing hide supply, the forecast was for production of 40 million cattle hides by 2007.

Guest speaker Mike Redwood, World Leather’s deputy editor, spoke on “The Ethical Marketing of Leather in Difficult Times.” Among the points made, Redwood said: “It seems to me that in talking about branding leather we talk about the wrong brand. Consumers love leather, we see that all around. Automobiles sell better with leather upholstery, luxury leather goods do well in good and bad economic times, and many people have love affairs with shoe buying. Leather is a strong brand; it has no problems of recognition. But the tanning industry has a problem. It’s the tanning industry that needs more branding: its bodies like ICT who have to stand up and represent the issues that face the tanner these days and which make so much of the business financially marginal.”

This is the key challenge that the ICT has to address.

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