Brussels, 23 October 2024 — Romania has taken a significant step towards ending the cruel practice of fur farming with a parliamentary vote, on Tuesday 22nd of October, to ban the breeding of minks and chinchillas for fur. The vote passed with 217 in favour, six against, and seven abstentions, and the ban will come into full effect on January 1st, 2027. FOUR PAWS applauds Romania for this landmark decision. With Romania becoming the 16th EU Member State to ban fur farming, the call for an EU-wide ban has never been stronger. 19 Member States have already totally or partially banned, or strictly regulated fur farming on grounds of animal welfare and public health, and over 1.5 million citizens have signed the Fur Free Europe European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) demanding an end to this outdated and cruel practice across Europe.

Romania's decision to ban fur farming is an achievement for animal welfare and a reminder that Europe is ready for change. Millions of animals, including minks and chinchillas, suffer in small wire cages and are being killed, to produce unnecessary fur products. With almost two thirds of EU Member States having banned this industry, this highlights the need for harmonized legislation at the EU level. The European Commission must now take the necessary steps to ensure a unified approach, preventing loopholes and ensuring consistent standards across all Member States.

The number of fur farms across the EU has plummeted, driven by several key factors. Social acceptance and demand for fur products has declined. There is growing awareness that fur farming poses significant risks to human health due to an increased zoonotic disease risk. Environmental concerns have also emerged, as the industry relies on toxic chemicals. Additionally, fur farming threatens biodiversity, with some farmed species escaping and being considered Invasive Alien Species (IAS), which harms native wildlife. Despite this progress, it is estimated that around 1,000 fur farms in the EU for minks, foxes, and raccoon dogs remain active, holding approximately 7.7 million animals.

FOUR PAWS continues to urge the European Union to act decisively on this issue. A comprehensive ban at the EU level, including on the import of fur products, is essential to ensure that no animals suffer in the name of fashion. In December 2023, the European Commission responded to the Fur Free Europe European Citizens' Initiative by asking the European Food Safety Authority to provide a scientific assessment on the issue.

Background

The ECI Fur Free Europe was officially registered by the European Commission on 16/03/2022 and ran from 18/05/2022 until 01/03/2023. The ECI was submitted by a group of citizens from 7 EU Member States. It aims to achieve an EU-wide ban on the keeping and killing of animals for the sole or main purpose of fur production, as well as placing farmed animal fur, and products containing such fur, on the EU market.

The European Union is one of the main regions for fur production globally. Every year millions of animals (mainly mink, foxes and raccoon dogs) are legally confined in small wire mesh cages and killed to produce unnecessary, easily replaceable fur articles. The mission is to end this cruel practice by introducing an EU-wide prohibition of fur farming.