2 June 2021 – Today the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) became the first Baltic state to pass a ban on fur farms. The third attempt was passed with a clear majority. The new regulation prohibits the breeding and keeping of animals exclusively or primarily for the purpose of fur production. After a transitional period, fur farms must be closed by the beginning of 2026, at the latest. The fur industry in Estonia has been shrinking for years – recently only a few small chinchilla farms were still active, while larger fox and mink farms stood empty, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS welcomes this important and timely step by the Estonian government and prompts the EU to end cruel fur farming once and for all.

Estonia is the ninth EU country to adopt a ban on cruel fur farms. Previously, eight EU Member States had already decided to ban fur farming at national level after ongoing animal welfare discussions, some of which are still in the transitional period (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Slovenia). In five other Member States, parliamentary procedures are underway to introduce such bans (Bulgaria, France, Ireland, Lithuania and Poland). In Germany, there are no longer any fur farms due to stricter husbandry regulations.

Due to widespread COVID-19 outbreaks on more than 400 mink farms in the EU, the ban on mink farms in the Netherlands, planned for 2024, has been brought forward to 2021; Denmark, Sweden and Italy have suspended the breeding of mink until 2022. In Flanders, the last region with mink farms in Belgium, mink farmers have stopped production until the end of 2021 due to the Coronavirus risk and low fur prices.

Australia and Fur

Here in Australia, a 2019 YouGov opinion poll found 88% of Australians who are aware of animal cruelty issues in fashion, are concerned about the welfare and treatment of animals in the fur industry.

“Many countries and cities are responding to public demand and ending their support for fur sales,” said Elise Burgess, Head of Communications at FOUR PAWS Australia, the Australian representative of the global Fur Free Retailer initiative which has signed the likes of Prada, Gucci and H&M to its fur free commitments, and founder of the Wear it Kind animal welfare in fashion campaign.

“FOUR PAWS is urging Australians to call on Premiers Gladys Berejiklian and Daniel Andrews to lead the way, and make their states the first to ban the sale of fur," said Burgess.  

Over 21,000 people have already joined the call to ban fur sales in Australia.