Lausunto EU-komissiolle Fur Free Europe -aloitteesta

EU-komissio pyysi kannanottoja käsittelyssä olevaan eurooppalaiseen Fur Free Europe -kansalaisaloitteeseen. Animalia jätti komissiolle alla olevan lausunnon.

Statement by Animalia, a Finnish NGO specialized in the welfare of fur animals and the economic aspects of fur farming. Attached a report on the economic situation of fur farming in Finland, published by Animalia in 2022.  

While there were as many as 6,000 fur farms in Finland in the 1980s, the industry is now very small. According to the Finnish Food Authority, there are approx. 280 fur farms left in Finland. Production in 2024 was only 17% of 2015 production levels. Since 2019, the decline has been particularly steep: In 2024, 216,000 blue fox cubs were bred, 84% less than in 2019. The number of minks collapsed by 60 %, to 410 000 mink in 2024.  

Fur farming has not been profitable in over a decade. At the June 2025 fur auction, the average price for blue fox skins was 36,4. Since the cost of raising a fox varies from 80-100, each skin was sold at a loss of approx. 40-60. Further, only 24% of blue fox furs were sold. The average price of brown mink skins, the largest sale lot of minks, was around 30 whereas the production cost is approx. 35. The last time sales prices covered the cost of production was in 2014-2015. Due to the poor profitability, banks are no longer granting loans to fur farms.  

It is no wonder, therefore, that fur farming is largely a part-time and secondary activity for fur farmers. Most already have another source of income and would not need a replacement income, should fur farming be banned. Total employment in the fur industry has halved since 2020 (2,260 person-years in 2020, 1,190 person-years in 2024). Fur farming alone employed only 360 person-years in 2024 (956 person-years in 2020). (Fifur 2025 ) Of those who have abandoned fur farming, some have converted their fur farms to solar power production, for example.  

Most of the fur produced in Finland is exported. The value of exports has also collapsed. Compared to 400 million in 2014, the export of Finnish fur generated around 119 million in 2024, around 0.2% of the total exports in Finland.Tax income generated by fur farming is also marginal. In 2024, the industry generated 15 million in taxes for the Finnish state and parishes, and 3 million for municipalities. (Fifur 2025)  

In 2023, avian influenza spread on Finnish fur farms and animals on 72 farms were ordered to be culled. According to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, fur farming poses a continuous risk to public health.  

Public opinion is strongly against fur farming. 83% of Finns oppose the current form of fur farming (Taloustutkimus 2023) and the Finnish Parliament is currently considering a citizens’ initiative demanding a fur farming ban. The Parliament’s Constitutional Law Committee stated already in 2013 that a fur farming ban would not be in conflict with the Finnish Constitution.  

According to the Natural Resources Institute Finland, fur farming can no longer be considered economically significant or widely supported by the Finnish public. In light of the economic indicators, social attitudes and the health risks associated with the industry, the Institute finds it difficult to imagine the economic importance of the industry increasing or even remaining unchanged.  

Scenarios proposed: Animalia strongly opposes scenario 3. Due to the need to keep production costs down, there would be pressure to set requirements that do not sufficiently improve animal welfare whereas requirements in line with EFSAs scientific opinion would in practice end fur farming. Scenario 2 would be best for animals, it would honour public opinion as well as provide clarity to the remaining fur farmers. 

Kaikki lausunnot komission sivuilla

Kuva: Andrew Skowron