The European Greens demand that the fur farming industry needs to be phased out due to the severe welfare problems for all the species reared for fur.
Already in 2001, the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare (SCAHAW) prepared a report on the welfare of animals kept for fur farming in response to a request from the EU Commission. According to SCAHAW’s recommendation cages and management methods used for minks and foxes should be greatly improved in order to provide sufficient environmental complexity: all animals should for instance have ability to express valued species specific activities including social interactions, grooming, exploration and play.
Almost a decade has passed since the release of the report but the conditions in fur farms have not improved. Recently published terrified photographs from Finnish fur farms have shown this very clearly. Even there are some plans to improve living conditions of fur animals, like those new cage measures, which are to be implemented from the beginning of 2011, this does not offer solution to the severe welfare problems. These animals are intelligent and in their natural habitats use areas of several square kilometres.
The European Greens note that the Council Directive 98/58/EC concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes is in serious need of updating as animal welfare cannot be guaranteed under the present regulation which do not guarantee proper implementation of animal welfare standards.
The import, export and the sale of cat and dog fur is already banned in the EU and last year (2009) EU also banned the import of seal products. Fur bearing mammals used in fur farming are still semi-wild species and their well-being in faming conditions is not possible. Some European countries have set regulations which guarantee reasonable conditions to these animals, but this has led to closing of fur farms for economic reasons.
Various EU countries have already decided to restrict or ban fur farming or farming of certain fur animals. These decisions have been made as a result of the continuing welfare problems of the animals and the growing public interest in the animal welfare. Additionally, the fur industry is causing serious environmental problems, such as water pollution as a result of nitrogen and phosphorus releases and air pollution in the vicinity of fur farms due to ammonia.
The European Green Party points out the need to phase out fur farming as it causes severe suffering on animals, and calls on the European Union to quickly revise Council Directice 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes especially regarding the protection of animals kept for fur farming purposes.
Download the complete resolution in PDF format here...
