Overwhelming support for a Swedish ban on fur farming
Project 1882 has just submitted its response to the inquiry into a ban on fur farming in Sweden. Most other leading organisations support the proposal for a ban. Project 1882 sees this as a strong signal to politicians to introduce the ban as soon as possible.
Today, 22 October, Sweden is moving one step closer to a total ban on fur farming. The report proposing the ban has been out for consultation so that organisations and authorities can give their views on the proposal. There is broad consensus in favour of the ban. It is not only animal welfare organisations that agree with the conclusion to ban fur farming, but also authorities such as several county administrative boards, the Swedish Board of Agriculture, the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
“This sends a clear message to politicians. Closing fur farms is something Project 1882 has been campaigning for over 50 years, and the consultation process shows that support for a ban is both strong and widespread. There are many good reasons to ban fur farms. Above all, it is about protecting animals from the enormous suffering caused by the fur industry.”
– Linn Åkesson, Chief Program Officer, Project 1882
The next step is for the Government Offices to process the responses and for the incoming Swedish government to decide. A Swedish ban would also have an impact beyond the country’s borders. At present, the EU is reviewing the future of fur farming, following the European citizens’ initiative ‘Fur Free Europe’, which gathered over 1.5 million signatures. Project 1882 believes that a national ban would strengthen the move towards a future EU ban on fur farming and the trade in fur within the EU’s internal market.
“The next government now has a historic opportunity to put an end to fur farming in Sweden once and for all. A Swedish ban would also send an important signal to the rest of Europe and bolster efforts to secure an EU-wide ban.”
– Linn Åkesson
The Swedish ban is planned to come into force at latest July 2027. The ban would make Sweden a part of the majority of member states in the EU.
Ban EU fur farms
If Sweden can do it, so can the EU. It is time for the European Commission to act for a ban on fur farming and imports of fur products.
