UK Government Urged to Ban Fur Imports and Sales Amid Public Support and EU Science Body's Finding of Inhumane Conditions

Strategic Insights -

The UK Government is facing increasing pressure to ban the import and sale of cruel fur, as leading animal charity Humane World for Animals (formerly Humane Society International) responds to a European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) report that concluded fur farming across the European Union fails to meet basic animal welfare needs. The charity is urging the UK Government to close its borders to fur imports and support a legislative bill by Ruth Jones MP, which proposes to extend existing bans on trade in fur from cats, dogs, and seals to also prevent the import and sale of new fur from foxes, raccoon dogs, mink, chinchillas, coyotes, and other animals.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that fur farming across the European Union fails to meet basic animal welfare needs for mink, foxes, raccoon dogs, and chinchillas.
  • Over 1.5 million EU citizens signed the Fur Free Europe European Citizens' Initiative petition for an EU ban on fur farming and trade, and in the UK campaigners handed-in a 1.5 million signature #FurFreeBritain petition calling for a UK fur import and sales ban.
  • HMRC records show UK imports of around £30-£40 million of fur each year from countries including Finland, Poland, Greece, and China, equivalent to around 1 million animals being killed to be imported into the UK annually.
  • The EFSA report listed key animal welfare problems in current fur farm systems, including cages of insufficient size and complexity, sensory understimulation and overstimulation, inability to exhibit key behaviors, stress, aggression, and injury, and stereotypical behaviors.
  • A Private Member's Bill introduced by Ruth Jones, Labour MP for Newport West and Islwyn, proposes to extend existing bans on trade in fur from cats, dogs, and seals to also prevent the import and sale of new fur from foxes, raccoon dogs, mink, chinchillas, coyotes, and other animals.
  • Recent polling shows that 77% of the British public support a ban on the import of fur.
  • Around 500,000 mink, arctic fox, red fox, raccoon dogs, and sable were killed on public health grounds due to diseases such as COVID-19 and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1).
  • The carbon footprint of 1kg of mink fur is 31 times higher than cotton, 26 times higher than acrylic, and 25 times higher than polyester.

Statistics:

  • 1.5 million EU citizens signed the Fur Free Europe European Citizens' Initiative petition for an EU ban on fur farming and trade.
  • 1.5 million signatures were collected on the #FurFreeBritain petition calling for a UK fur import and sales ban.
  • £30-£40 million: UK imports of fur each year from countries including Finland, Poland, Greece, and China.
  • 1 million: estimated number of animals killed to be imported into the UK annually.
  • 500,000: number of mink, arctic fox, red fox, raccoon dogs, and sable killed on public health grounds due to diseases.
  • 31: times higher carbon footprint of 1kg of mink fur compared to cotton.
  • 26: times higher carbon footprint of 1kg of mink fur compared to acrylic.
  • 25: times higher carbon footprint of 1kg of mink fur compared to polyester.

Sources:

  • The Humane Society of the United States press release.
  • European Food Safety Authority's official scientific opinion.
  • The European Citizens' Initiative petition for an EU ban on fur farming and trade.
  • The #FurFreeBritain petition calling for a UK fur import and sales ban.
  • HMRC records on UK imports of fur.
  • Ruth Jones MP's Private Member's Bill proposal.
  • EFSA report on animal welfare problems in current fur farm systems.
  • Polling data on British public support for a ban on fur imports.