Compiled by Sahar Yaghoubi
As concerns over animal welfare, public health, and environmental impact intensify, the once-thriving fur farming industry in Europe is facing a reckoning. A citizen’s petition demanding an EU-wide ban on fur production has garnered over 1.5 million signatures, far surpassing the required threshold to initiate a potential law change.
Dubbed the “Fur Free Europe European Citizens’ Initiative” (ECI), the petition aims to prohibit the keeping and killing of animals solely for the purpose of fur production across the European Union. Its overwhelming support underscores the shifting attitudes toward an industry that has long been a subject of ethical scrutiny.
Europe, alongside China, has historically been a major fur producer, with Finland and Poland leading the way. However, the industry has experienced a significant decline in recent years, with annual mink production plummeting from 45 million in 2014 to approximately 12 million in 2021, according to animal welfare organizations.
The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the industry’s woes, as outbreaks on fur farms forced Denmark, once a fur farming powerhouse, to cull its entire mink population in 2020. While the country has announced plans to resume mink farming, other nations like Norway and Hungary have implemented bans or stringent regulations, citing animal welfare and public health concerns.
Across the EU, 14 member states have already outlawed fur farming, with countries like Latvia being the latest to join the list in September 2022. Political discussions on potential bans are also underway in Romania, Lithuania, and Poland, reflecting the growing momentum against the industry.
The declining fur trade is not limited to production alone. The value of fur imports in the EU has dropped by more than 60% over the past decade, according to animal welfare organization Four Paws. This trend is mirrored in the UK, where public support for a complete ban on fur sales and imports remains strong, with over 1.1 million signatures collected in favor of such a move.
As consumers become increasingly conscious of ethical and environmental issues, the demand for fur products is waning, prompting retailers and fashion brands to embrace fur-free policies. Animal rights groups have long advocated for a blanket ban on fur farming and sales, citing not only animal cruelty concerns but also the industry’s contributions to environmental degradation and potential public health risks.
With the Fur Free Europe ECI now submitted to the European Commission for consideration, the stage is set for a potential landmark decision that could reshape the future of fur farming in the region. As the ethical and practical arguments against the industry gain traction, Europe may be inching closer to a fur-free future.
