On Monday 28 June, the Agriculture Ministers of Austria and the Netherlands asked the European Commission to present measures to “end fur farming in the European Union”.
A document (https://bit.ly/3jo2w3x ) from these two countries calling for such a ban was supported by the Belgian, German, Luxembourg and Slovak delegations.
Italy, Slovenia and Bulgaria also called for an end to fur farming, especially after the Covid-19 cases in mink. Poland justified such a ban by the risks of contamination and mutation of the virus. France also supports the ban, provided that it does not affect rabbits bred for meat and fur.
Ireland has recently decided to end fur farming by the end of 2022.
Lithuania voted against ending mink farming, as did Greece, Romania and Hungary. Romania and Hungary called instead for adequate animal welfare regulations. Greece has implemented a Covid-19 vaccination campaign in its mink farms. “We do not consider it appropriate to ban this legitimate activity”, Greece said.
Several Member States have banned the breeding and reproduction of fur animals on their territory in the context of the pandemic.
Denmark, for example, has introduced a temporary ban on fur farming until the end of 2021, and is finalising its position on the future. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)