The days of fur trim on collars and mink coats on runways may be numbered in Europe, and not just for fashion reasons. A new scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has delivered a damning verdict on fur farming, confirming what animal advocates have long argued: it is impossible to ensure good animal welfare in cage-based systems.
The report, released as part of the EU’s Fur Free Europe Citizens’ Initiative, concludes that the animals most commonly farmed for their pelts – mink, foxes, raccoon dogs and chinchillas – suffer severely in captivity. From restricted movement and isolation stress to tissue damage and lameness, the findings paint a bleak picture of life inside wire-mesh cages used in fur farming.
‘Fur farming is fundamentally incompatible with animal welfare,’ EFSA states, underscoring that the behavioural and psychological needs of these wild species simply cannot be met on fur farms. The report aligns with decades of scientific research showing the harm caused by confining animals in small barren cages, conditions no amount of ‘enrichment’ can redeem.
Animal welfare organisations, including FOUR PAWS and Eurogroup for Animals, are now calling on the European Commission to act swiftly. They’re urging lawmakers not only to ban fur farming across all EU countries, but to also prohibit the sale of fur products on the European market, including those imported from abroad.
‘The practice of confining millions of animals in tiny cages for luxury fashion is outdated and indefensible,’ said Dr. Martina Stephany, Director of Animal Welfare Issues at FOUR PAWS. ‘EFSA has now confirmed what we’ve known all along: this industry cannot be made humane.’
Ban Fur Farming
The report comes at a time when public support for banning fur farming is at an all-time high. More than 1.5 million citizens have signed the Fur Free Europe initiative, and the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe – representing 330,000 vets across 39 countries – has publicly backed the call for a ban, citing both ethical concerns and public health risks.
Reineke Hameleers, CEO of Eurogroup for Animals, added: ‘There’s nothing surprising in the EFSA opinion. Farming wild animals for a non-essential product violates every principle of good welfare. The science is clear, and the public wants change.’
With the European Commission currently reviewing its animal welfare legislation, campaigners say the time to act is now. And while many luxury fashion houses have already ditched fur – Gucci, Prada, and Burberry among them – campaigners warn that legal bans are essential to end the trade entirely.
Want to help?
Support the Fur Free Europe campaign, avoid buying any products made with real fur, and encourage brands you love to commit to cruelty-free materials.
