France has announced a ban on mink fur farming with the last four remaining fur farms to shut by 2025
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France minister Barbara Pompili has announced that mink fur farming will be banned in France with the last remaining fur farms ordered to shut by 2025 in a move that will save countless animal’s lives.
The announcement comes a month after an undercover investigation by French animal campaigners, One Voice, revealed shocking evidence of animal suffering on mink fur farms.
The country is the second-largest exporter of fur to the UK with the latter importing £64,169, 892 worth of fur into the country between 2015 – 2019.
‘Immense suffering’
In a statement sent to Vegan Food & Living, Claire Bass, executive director for Humane Society International/UK, said: “We applaud the French government for taking a stand against the immense suffering endured by mink for fur fashion.
“The scenes of abject suffering in France’s last remaining fur farms made the world shudder, so it is commendable that minister Barbara Pompili has listened to the public outcry that this kind of cruelty is utterly unacceptable.
‘Rabbit farming is next’
However, Bass added that while they applaud the decision made by the French government, by waiting until 2025 to implement the ban they are allowing the suffering of countless animals to continue.
“This announcement is a great first step for France, but it allows for the unnecessary suffering of mink to continue for another five years. It also excludes Orylag rabbits who are farmed for their fur in France,” Bass added.
“We would like to see the French government shut down all mink fur as a matter of urgency and for them to acknowledge that rabbit farming is next on the list. The UK banned fur farming a decade ago, but we still allow the import and sale of fur from countries like France.
“For as long as the UK remains open for business to sell fur from overseas, we are complicit in this cruelty. We call on the UK to close the door on fur sales and become a #FurFreeBritain.”
Wild animal circus ban
As well as banning mink fur farming, France’s environment minister has also announced a gradual ban on using wild animals in travelling circuses and keeping dolphins and killer whales in captivity in marine parks.
Bears, tigers, lions, elephants and other wild animals will also no longer be allowed in travelling circuses “in the coming years” whilst marine parks will be banned from bringing in or breeding dolphins and killer whales.
