The ECI For a Fur Free Europe: put an end to the fur industry in Europe

The Fur Free Europe ECI has asked the EU to forbid the breeding of animals for fur as well as marketing of products coming from fur farms, because fur is against ethics, dangerous, and not sustainable:

• The complex behavioural needs of wild animals cannot be met in fur farms: locking them up in small cages for the sole purpose of killing them, or primarily for the value of their fur, cannot be made legal for domestic species either.
• Fur farms represent a risk to human and animal health, as proven by the COVID-19 pandemic, when hundreds of mink farms were affected by the coronavirus outbreak and new variants of the virus were passed from animals to humans.
• Breeding animals for fur has a significant environmental impact as the treatment and dying of fur requires the use of toxic chemical products. In terms of soil pollution from toxic metals, fur production is classified among the five most polluting industries.
• The fur industry also constitutes a serious threat for native biodiversity. Certain farmed species, such as American mink and raccoon dogs, have escaped fur farms and are now considered as an exotic invasive species causing significant damage to native European wildlife.

During a meeting of the European Union Council (Agriculture and Fisheries), the Netherlands and Austria filed an information note, supported by Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, and Slovakia, requesting that the European Commission forbids breeding animals for fur. The appeal to put an end to breeding animals for fur in the EU for animal welfare, public health, and ethical consideration reasons has been supported by a total of twelve member states during deliberations on the document.

The Fur Free Europe ECI was officially registered by the European Commission on 16/03/2022 and will run from 18/05/2022 for one year.

“There has never been a more urgent need for Europe to make the cruel and unnecessary fur trade history. The fur industry not only treats animals inhumanely for a product no one needs, but has also been shown to be a breeding ground for outbreaks of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, as well as having a serious negative environmental impact. We know that public opinion in Europe opposes the fur industry and we need European citizens to act now by signing this ECI”, said Joh Vinding, President of Fur Free Alliance.

“We have an unprecedented opportunity to finally put an end to this cruel and unnecessary practice. European citizens have been asking for it for a long time, and their wishes started changing the fashion system, with many historic brands going fur free. Last year’s AGRIFISH Council proved that now there is also a political will. We call on the public to help us make history and ban fur once and for all, and on the European Institutions to support the public demand”, said Reineke Hameleers, CEO of Eurogroup for Animals.

Notes

• One Voice’s investigations on fur farms in France
• The Fur Free Europe ECI
• The EU Commission implementing decision relating to the Fur Free Europe ECI
• Fur fact sheet - Fur Free Alliance
• Fur farming and problems for animal welfare (furfreealliance.com)
• Covid-19 on fur farms - Fur Free Alliance
• The environmental and health costs of fur (furfreealliance.com)
• More information on animal fur farming in Europe
• Recent news on animal fur farming
• The 2021 demand from twelve Member States to end fur farming in the EU

Translated from the French by Joely Justice