The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE), together with FECAVA (the Federation of Companion Animal Veterinary Associations) and WSAVA (the World Small Animal Veterinary Association), has issued a joint statement calling for a global phase-out of fur farming within the next ten years. The statement, adopted on 14 November 2025 at the FVE General Assembly in Cyprus, marks one of the strongest expert positions to date on the future of the fur industry.

A clear message from veterinarians
Representing over 330,000 veterinarians across Europe, and with global reach through WSAVA, the three organisations state that fur farming is disproportionate and unjustifiable when viewed through the One Health-One Welfare lens. They state that:

“As veterinarians committed to animal health and welfare, public health and the protection of the environment, FVE, FECAVA and WSAVA believe that fur farming is no longer sustainable.”

Therefore, the organisations reach the conclusion that fur farming should be phased out. Their recommendations to policymakers include:

• a legally enacted global phase-out of fur farming within the next ten years;
• ending the placement of farmed-animal fur and fur products on the market
• banning the import of fur from countries that have not phased out the practice.

Animal welfare concerns: inherent and long-standing
The statement emphasises that mink, foxes, raccoon dogs and chinchillas are wild or semi-wild animals whose complex behavioural and physiological needs cannot be met on fur farms. These animals are kept in barren wire cages, unable to engage in natural behaviours such as digging, swimming, hunting, or social interaction.

The organisations also refer to EFSA’s scientific opinion, which concluded that conditions in the fur industry lead to injuries, stress, stereotypies, self-mutilation and cannibalism, failing to meet even the most basic welfare standards laid down in the Five Domains model.

Another welfare concern that is expressed by the veterinarians is that the killing methods within the fur industry, such as gassing, electrocution or lethal injection, are extremely painful and cause unnecessary suffering.

Public health and environmental risks
The veterinary organisations also highlight the significant public-health threats associated with fur farming. Outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 on hundreds of mink farms and recent cases of avian influenza (H5N1) on fur farms in Spain, Finland but also the Netherlands demonstrate that high-density confinement of wild species creates ideal conditions for zoonotic spillover.

Environmental concerns feature prominently as well. escaped American mink, now listed as an invasive alien species in 28 European countries, continue to threaten native biodiversity, including the critically endangered European mink.

A shift already underway in Europe
Across Europe, momentum for ending fur farming is accelerating. Seventeen EU Member States have adopted full or partial bans, and more are considering restrictions. The European Citizens’ Initiative “Fur Free Europe” gathered over 1.5 million validated signatures, reflecting widespread public support for an end to the industry. The new statement reinforces this shift, aligning expert opinion with public sentiment and decades of scientific evidence.

A call for leadership
In their conclusion, FVE, FECAVA and WSAVA urge policymakers, both in the EU and globally, to adopt a coordinated, science-based transition away from fur farming. This includes supporting rural communities, investing in sustainable alternatives, and ensuring realistic transition timelines.

Importance of this statement
For the international fur free movement, the position of these veterinary organisations is highly significant. Veterinarians are widely trusted experts in animal health and welfare; their unified call adds substantial weight to the growing consensus that fur farming has no place in a modern, responsible and health-conscious society.

The Fur Free Alliance welcomes this clear and authoritative statement from the veterinary profession on the inherent cruelty of fur farming, and fully supports its call for urgent political action to bring the fur industry to an end.