In 2021, France introduced a proibition on the breeding of non-domestic species for fur. The ban went into immediate effect which led to the closure of the two remaining French fur farms.
Hungary adopted an immediate ban on the breeding of mink, foxes, polecats, and coypu for fur, in November 2020, following concerns about animal welfare and coronavirus outbreaks on mink fur farms across Europe. The ban was introduced as a precautionary measure to prevent fur farmers from moving their operations there.
Denmark introduced a ban on fox farming in 2009. In addition, Denmark prohibited the building of new raccoon dog farms in 2011, which led to an effective ban since there are no raccoon dog farms in Denmark.
Before The Netherlands adopted a ban on mink fur farming in 2013, fox and chinchilla fur production was already out-phased in the mid-1990s.
In 2021, the provincial government of British Columbia in Canada announced a phase-out of mink fur farming by April 2023, following multiple coronavirus outbreaks on BC mink farms.
Germany introduced new animal welfare legislation in 2017, with a 5-year transition period, that required stricter keeping standards (such as increased cages sizes and additional swimming basins for mink). The new regulations meant that fur farming was no longer deemed profitable and this led to the closure of the last remaining mink farms in 2019, before the new measures came into force.
The introduction of stricter animal welfare requirements in Sweden led to the closure of fox fur farms in 2005 and chinchilla fur farms in 2014. The new measures addressed some natural needs of the two species, to enable chinchillas to jump, and foxes to dig and socialize. The new requirements rendered fox and chinchilla farming economically unviable in Sweden.
Switzerland introduced legislation in 2008 that allowed animals to be kept captive only in conditions that are equivalent to modern zoos. Fur farming under such rules was deemed to be unprofitable and no longer takes place in the country.
To prevent ecological damage caused by escaped mink as an invasive alien species, Bulgaria introduced a ban on the breeding and import of American mink in 2022, which was suspended shortly after due to an appeal. Spain adopted stricter regulations on similar grounds in 2016 which prohibit the building of new mink fur farms.
In 2006, the Japanese Invasive Alien Species Act made it illegal to breed and import American mink, while existing mink fur farms were allowed to continue under strict conditions. This led to the phasing-out of fur farming in Japan in 2016 following the closure of the last mink fur farm due to non-compliance.
To protect local biodiversity, it is prohibited to import mink, foxes and coypu in New Zealand according to the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, which effectively bans fur farming of these species in the country.