Milestone: Poland Decides to Ban Fur Farms
04.12.2025 | from FOUR PAWS - Foundation for Animal Welfare
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04.12.2025, It is a real milestone: Poland, one of the largest fur producers in the EU, has decided to ban fur farms. The corresponding law was signed yesterday by Polish President Karol Nawrocki, following approval by Parliament in October. For FOUR PAWS, this is a huge success in the fight against a cruel industry that claims the lives of millions of animals worldwide. The global animal welfare organisation has been demanding an EU-wide ban not only on fur farms but also on the import of fur products for years.
The ban on such a large producer is another blow to the fur industry and a real reason for celebration. Just in 2024, 2.7 million minks and 30,000 foxes were killed in Poland. Animal cruelty in the name of fashion is simply unacceptable. Contrary to the messages conveyed by various fashion labels, most real fur products involve cruelty, and the needs of the animals cannot be met on fur farms," says Lauretta Eckhardt, Policy Manager at FOUR PAWS Switzerland. This position was also scientifically substantiated in 2025 by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) within a 'Scientific Opinion'.
However, the downside is the transition period. Lauretta Eckhardt explains: "A deadline until 2034 is simply too long, especially considering how many animals will still have to suffer until then, and that this is an industry that has significantly lost revenue in recent years - especially since the COVID-19 pandemic." Polish fur farmers, however, will be offered compensation if they exit production earlier.
After Poland, Greece, Lithuania, Spain, and Finland are the largest producers in the EU. The pressure is also growing on them, not least due to the European Citizens' Initiative 'Fur Free Europe', supported by FOUR PAWS, during which over 1.7 million signatures were submitted to the EU Commission in 2023.
"Fur production has no future. We hope that the EU Commission will finally react and decide on an EU-wide ban on production and imports. The 1.7 million supporters of the European Citizens' Initiative should actually be a clear sign," Eckhardt adds.
The Consequences in Switzerland
An import ban on fur involving animal cruelty came into force in Switzerland at the ordinance level on 1st July 2025. In parallel, the Fur Initiative is underway with an associated indirect counter-proposal, which was already approved by the National Council in September and demands that the import and trade ban on fur products involving animal cruelty be anchored in the animal welfare law. FOUR PAWS supports this approach.
The requirements of Swiss animal welfare legislation are so strict for housing wild animals like minks and foxes that fur farms have not existed in Switzerland for a long time.
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FOUR PAWS - Foundation for Animal Welfare
FOUR PAWS is the global animal protection organisation for animals under direct human influence, recognising grievances, rescuing animals in need, and protecting them. Founded in 1988 by Heli Dungler and friends in Vienna, the organisation advocates for a world in which humans treat animals with respect, compassion, and understanding. Its sustainable campaigns and projects focus on stray dogs and cats, as well as companion, farm, and wild animals - such as bears, big cats, and orangutans - from inadequate housing conditions and disaster and conflict zones.
With offices in Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, the United Kingdom, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the USA, and Vietnam, as well as rescue centres for animals in distress in eleven countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. In Switzerland, the animal welfare foundation is a cooperation partner of the Arosa Bear Land, the first bear sanctuary providing rescued bears from poor housing conditions with a species-appropriate home.
Note: The "About Us" text is taken from public sources or from the company profile on HELP.ch.
Source: FOUR PAWS - Foundation for Animal Welfare, Press release
Original article published on: Meilenstein: Polen beschliesst Verbot von Pelzfarmen