The Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals in the European Parliament discussed on Thursday “The case for a Fur Free Europe”.
As previously reported by The Brussels Times, last May animal welfare organisations launched a European Citizen Initiative (ECI) for a ban on fur farming and marketing of farmed fur products in the EU. Since then, the number of signatures has increased from 50,000 to more than 400,000. The aim is to collect at least 1 million signatories in at least seven EU Member States.
There is also growing support for the Fur-Free ECI in the European Parliament as yesterday meeting with scientific experts, MEPs, and representatives of member states and civil society indicates.
After an introduction from the President of the Intergroup Tilly Metz MEP (LU, Greens/EFA), Reineke Hameleers, CEO, Eurogroup for Animals, presented a new report which explores the need to ban fur farming and the placement of farmed fur products on the European market, from a public health, legal, environmental and ethical perspective.
“More than 400,000 citizens have already made it clear that fur no longer has a place in Europe,” she said. “Member states are ready to back their request. Today’s exchange with experts, MEPs and the horrific but important images from the documentary complement the request.”
She was referring to the documentary SLAY from the makers of the award-winning films Cowspiracy and What The Health. SLAY follows filmmaker Rebecca Cappelli’s journey around the world to uncover the dark side of the fashion industry.
In a video message, Johannes Rauch, Austrian Federal Minister of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, said that he wholeheartedly supports the European Citizens' Initiative for a Fur Free Europe. “The EU must use its power and also close the EU market to farmed fur products from outside the EU. Just like we have done with products from certain trapping methods, seal products or cat and dog fur.”
To date, 13 member states have totally or partially banned or strictly regulated fur farming, sometimes with phasing-out periods.
The Brussels Times
