Italy to ban fur farming

Italy is set to permanently ban fur farming throughout the country and will close the its 10 remaining mink fur farms within six months.

The Budget Committee of the Italian Senate voted on Tuesday to approve a modified version of an amendment to the budget law, which included the historic vote. Next, a final decision is to be made by the parliament in the upcoming weeks, which will make Italy the 16th country in Europe to ban fur farming.

The approved amendment includes an immediate ban on breeding of fur-bearing animals including mink, foxes, raccoon dogs and chinchillas, and the closure of all active fur farms in Italy by June, 2022. It also includes the compensation for farmers, covered by a fund from the Ministry of Agriculture for a total of 3 million euros in 2022.

Many Italian designers have already gone fur-free including Valentino, Armani, Gucci, Prada and Versace.

”This is an historic victory for animal protection in Italy, and HSI/Europe is immensely proud that our fur farm conversion strategy has played a central role in dismantling this cruel and dangerous industry in our country. There are very clear economic, environmental, public health and of course animal welfare reasons to close and ban fur farms,” said Martina Pluda, director of Humane Society International in Italy.

“Today’s vote recognizes that allowing the mass breeding of wild animals for frivolous fur fashion represents a risk to both animals and people that can’t be justified by the limited economic benefits it offers to a small minority of people involved in this cruel industry. With so many designers, retailers and consumers going fur-free, conversion of fur farms offers people a sustainable future that the fur trade simply cannot provide.”

HSI/Europe’s fur farm conversion proposal was endorsed by Italian Member of Parliament the Hon. Michela Vittoria Brambilla, and Sen. Loredana De Petris who formally submitted the amendment.

 ”In thirty years of animal rights battle this is the best victory. Finally, a parliamentary vote sanctions the end of unspeakable suffering inflicted on animals only in the name of profit and vanity. Italy is the twentieth European country to introduce a ban or severe restriction on fur farming: better late than never,” said Brambilla.

Italy to ban fur farming

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