Germany votes to end fur farming

Germany leaders vote for a bill that will shut down the country’s remaining fur farms

New legislation will force the closure of fur farms in Germany, reports PETA Germany. A blog post by the animal rights organisation reads: “Germany’s last fur farms will close down after a five-year transition. The new bill demands stricter regulations governing fur farming and will effectively make the raising of minks non-viable for farmers. Fur farming bans and stricter regulations that inevitably cause facilities to close are becoming increasingly widespread.”

The victory is more than 20 years in the making. PETA Germany has lobbied for a ban on fur farms since the organisation was founded in 1994. PETA say that millions of animals around the world are beaten, electrocuted and even skinned alive for their fur, and estimate that 85 per cent of skins produced by the fur industry come from animals held captive on fur farms.

Together, we can create a fur-free world

“These farms often hold thousands of animals, and the kinds of abuse that the facilities engage in are remarkably similar around the globe,” said a PETA representative.

Within the last year, Japan and Croatia have reportedly taken similar steps to eradicate fur farms. Celebrities including actors Penélope Cruz and Eva Mendes have declared their intention to go fur-free, and fashion houses including Giorgio Armani, Bottega Veneta, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Vivienne Westwood, also refuse to use animal pelts.

“Together, we can create a fur-free world,” said PETA.


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Image: Flickr user Akulatraxas