Members of the European Parliament from across the political spectrum are pressing the European Commission to propose an EU-wide ban on fur farming, according to letters sent to the Commission this week and reported by Euractiv.

In 2023, 1.5 million citizens backed the European Citizens' Initiative "Fur Free Europe" calling for a ban. The Commission committed to say by March 2026 whether it would propose an outright ban or stricter animal-welfare standards, but six months on it has made no announcement.

A letter dated 22 September, led by Slovak MEP Martin Hojsík and signed by 25 MEPs from the EPP, S&D, ECR, Renew, Greens and The Left, says the College is weighing "two very different paths", a phase-out or minimum welfare standards, and urges legislation "prohibiting the keeping and killing of animals for fur production". It warns Parliament is likely to reject anything short of a full ban, noting that most EU countries have already banned or phased out fur farming.

A second letter from Green MEPs to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen cites public-health risks, including COVID-19 outbreaks on mink farms in the Netherlands and Denmark, and also calls for a ban.

According to two diplomats, the delay stems from disagreement between von der Leyen's office and that of Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, whose remit includes animal welfare and who is reported to favour stricter standards over a ban. Várhelyi told Euractiv that the Commission's internal deliberations are still ongoing.

Photo: Oikeutta eläimille / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Source: Euractiv – Agriculture