On Thursday, the 21st of September, the Lithuanian Seimas passed in the final reading amendments to the Animal Protection Law. These amendments impose a ban on fur farming in Lithuanian from 2027 onward, as reported by Animal Freedom movement’s chairperson Katrīna Krīgere.
Amendments passed by the Lithuanian Seimas provide for the ban on fur farming to come into effect on the 1st of January 2027. The transition period will last three years – between 2024 and 2026.
Amendments also provide fur farmers a compensation of EUR 3 per animal if they shut down operations by 2025, EUR 2 per animal if they shut down by 2026 and EUR 1 per animal if they shut down by 2027.
68 Seima deputies voted in favour of the fur farming ban, 25 voted against, and 15 abstained in the vote. The biggest support for the ban on fur farming came from the Freedom Party (90% in favour), Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (70% in favour), Liberal Movement (50% in favour) and Social Democratic Party (50% in favour).
The Farmers and Greens Union and mixed group Seima deputies were the most condemning of the fur farming band (63% against in both).
There are currently 44 mink farms in Lithuania. Together these farms breed and farm approximately one million animals every year. There are also 31 chinchilla farms, which breed around 30 000 animals every year.
Animal Freedom movement’s chairperson Katrīna Krīgere says this is “a historic victory for animals and people”.
“Despite the condemnation from the majority of society, for years fur farmers in Lithuania have subjected innocent animals to suffering and agonising deaths to use their remains for clothes. Now this cruelty will finally be brought to an end and fur farming will be banned throughout the Baltics,” she said.
For ethical and animal welfare reasons, fur bans are already in effect in 22 European countries, including Latvia, Estonia, Austria, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and elsewhere.
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