FRANCE, 29 SEPTEMBER 2020 – In a historic move, this morning the French minister of Ecological Transition announced to prohibit mink fur production. The decision follows a recent expose from our French member One Voice of the hideous conditions on France’s last 4 remaining mink fur farms.

The ban on fur farming will go into force after a 5-year transitional period. Besides the prohibition of fur production, the announced measures also include a ban on wild animals in circuses.

Muriel Arnal, CEO of French animal protection organisation One Voice, says:

“What a hard fight… thanks to all our partners in the Fur Free Alliance for their help in the last moments. We finally have a ban. But it will take place in a very long time compared to the Netherlands. With only 4 remaining farms we expected a much stronger announcement. We will keep on fighting to close down these 4 farms before the deadline set by the ministry of Ecology.”

Last week Fur Free Alliance member organisations around the world urged the French government to take immediate action and shut down France’s last remaining fur farms.

Read our joint letter to French Minister Pomili here. 

Recent investigations on French fur farms, recorded in 2017, 2019 and once again in 2020, revealed shocking examples of animal suffering, including mink with physical injuries kept in appalling conditions and displaying stereotypical behaviour. Some of them had injured eyes, missing teeth, missing tails, paralysed and necrotic legs, and skin diseases.

Together with OneVoice we call on the French government to speed up the transitional period and prohibit fur farming at the earliest opportunity.