A good week for a Fur Free Europe

The historic announcement came on Tuesday, when the Polish president signed a law banning fur farming. The decision will impact millions of animals, as Poland is Europe’s largest and the world’s second-largest fur producer. With this move, Poland joins more than 20 EU countries that have already introduced or are progressing toward a ban. The law takes immediate effect for new fur farms, while all existing facilities must close by December 31, 2033. Once fully implemented, the ban will spare an estimated two to three million animals from suffering each year.  

This is a long-awaited announcement and a huge success for animals. We congratulate our friends in Otwarte Klatki, who have been working tirelessly to put this brutal industry where it belongs — in the history books.  

–  Benny Andersson, CEO Project 1882 

Last week, Fur Free Friday was observed in Sweden where – for the first time – the society is free from fur farms. The last mink farms closed in June this year, after decades of campaigning by Project 1882. In February 2026, the government will present an inquiry into a national ban on fur farming. However, real fur products are still being sold in Sweden, and animals are still trapped in tiny cages on fur farms in several European countries. For Europe's fur industry to disappear completely, a ban at the EU level is necessary. Several member states have already expressed their support for such a ban, but the Swedish government has not yet taken a stand. In response to a written question in the Swedish Parliament about Sweden’s position on an EU-wide ban on fur farming, the Minister for Rural Affairs said that “the government is awaiting a possible proposal from the European Commission to take a position on”.  

Why must Sweden wait for the European Commission to take a stand for animals? Now that the national phase-out of the mink farms is a fact, the Swedish government has an excellent opportunity to show leadership in Europe as well. 

–  Benny Andersson, CEO Project 1882 

An EU-wide ban on fur farming and on the placing of farmed fur products on the market was debated in Brussels last week. Members of the European Parliament urged the European Commission to clarify its plans after more than 1.5 million citizens called for a Fur Free Europe through a successful European Citizens’ Initiative. The initiative gathered over 1.5 million signatures, of which more than 100,000 were collected by Project 1882. 

In March 2026, the European Commission will respond to the citizens’ call for a Fur Free Europe.