A report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published on Wednesday has come to the judgment that the attitude of fur animals is not compatible with EU animal protection law. “Neither prevention nor substantial reduction of the identified [Tierschutzprobleme] are possible in the current system, ”says the report.
The attitude of red and polar trucks, marts, martens and chinchillas for fur extraction and found that these are only accompanied by serious problems such as behavioral disorders, serious injuries or chronic stress.
The European Commission wants to become legally active by March 2026 at the latest, but already classified the American nerz specially introduced for fur production as an invasive way. This means that EU member states are obliged to ban breeding and trade in animals of this kind.
“This report marks a crucial turning point. What animal rights organizations have uncovered for years is now also scientifically confirmed: fur farms mean systematic suffering,” commented Jan Peifer, CEO of the animal rights organization Aninova, in a message. “The EU has to draw consequences and finally prohibit fur animal breeding,” he demands.
“The cruelty of the fur animal industry has no place in a modern, compassionate Europe. The only humane and ethically justifiable path is now an EU-wide prohibition of fur animal breeding-without delay. Such a prohibition would be a milestone in the fight against one of the worst and most outdated forms of animal cruelty in the EU-and would at the same time honor the voices of over 1.5 million EU citizens: inside that Have signed European citizens’ initiative for a fur -free Europe, ”says Joanna Swabe, Senior Director Public Affairs at Humane World for Animals Europe.
There are many reasons for a ban on fur animals …
European citizens: Interior has been calling for an EU-wide fur ban for some time and has already collected over 1.5 million signatures through the European Citizens’ Initiative for Free Europe in 2023. Aninova also contributed to the clarification (at that time still under the name of German Animal Welfare Office) and published shocking pictures from Polish fur farms together with the sea biologist and activist Robert Marc Lehmann.
According to the animal welfare organization Humane World for Animals Europe (formerly Humane Society International), over 1,600 brands and retail companies have already become fur -free worldwide – including Max Mara, Kering, Peek & Cloppenburg Düsseldorf, Dolce & Gabbana and Mytheresa.
Many fashion Weeks such as those in London, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Helsinki, Los Angeles and Melbourne also decide to become furious. But many – such as New York, Paris, Milan and Berlin – are not yet.
However, fur-animal husbandry not only harbors risks for animals, but also for humans: the EFSA report warns of risks to public health, such as zoonotic pathogens such as Sars-Cov-2.
Another disadvantage is the danger to biodiversity: escaped animals are considered invasive species in many regions that threaten domestic ecosystems.
Aninova therefore calls for an immediate EU-wide ban on fur animal breeding and an import ban for fur products from third countries. “Only through a complete end of fur production and fur trade can it be prevented that animals for luxury items must continue to suffer,” said animal rights organization.
… but the fur lobby is strong
Even though fur -animal husbandry is already on the rear march across Europe and is prohibited in more than half of the EU member states, there are still eleven countries that adhere to fur production – including Finland, Poland, Denmark, Spain and Greece.
This leads to the fact that the EU is still responsible for 63 percent of global nerz production and 70 percent of the fox production, such an article in Santian Media from May 2024. According to Humane World for Animals Europe, in Europe, a total of almost 1,200 fur farms are still kept over 6 million nerze, marten dogs, foxes and chinchilla.
Denmark alone produced 28 percent of the global nerz skins on more than 1,000 farms before corona pandemic, but millions of animals were killed in 2020 to prevent the outbreak of a mutated corona virus.
In Germany and Austria, the situation is similar, as well as in Sweden and Bulgaria – even if the fur animal husbandry and farms are not expressly prohibited, legal requirements make them unprofitable, which has led to a closure of the last fur animal farms. As the first European country, Switzerland imposed an import ban on animal toned furs and fur products that came into force on July 1, 2025.
The fur industry also has significant financial means to operate lobbying in EU institutions, such as topics such as agriculture, trade and environmental policy. The International Pelzverband (IFF) receives funds from luxury groups, in the past from LVMH, to which brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior and Givenchy belong. The association is well networked and has members in over 40 countries and comprises 56 member associations that represent a wide range of fur trade and cover various aspects of the fur supply chain, including farmers: inside, auction houses, retailers: inside and designer: Inside.
Even if logic and compassion clearly speak for a ban on fur animals, commercial interests and the networking of those who benefit from the fur farm should not be despised. The branching of the fur industry, the attitude, breeding, trade, product production and more surrounding and loopholes (such as the EU regulation on invasive species) do not make the task easier. If an EU-wide fur ban is enforced, it is only to be hoped that it is also comprehensive enough to prevent circumvention.
The complete report “Welfare of American Mink, Red and Arctic Foxes, Raccoon Dog and Chinchilla Kept for FUR Production” can be viewed online in the EFSA Journal.
This article was updated on July 31, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. with information from Humane World for Animals Europe.