On Thursday, 20 January, Latvia’s Saeima conceptually supported amendments submitted by deputies of several factions to the Animal Protection Law, providing for severely restricting fur farming from 1 January 2026.
Law amendments provide for banning animal husbandry if the purpose of keeping animals is collecting their fur pelts.
Saeima deputy Krista Baumane said during the debates that many were sceptical the legislative draft would not gain traction, adding: ‘Nothing will come of this’. However, the general attitude of society and politicians has changed, she added. The deputy thanked Animal Freedom organisation and the media for pulling the shady sides of fur farming to the light.
Fur farming is unethical, cruel and a disappearing form of business, said Baumane, adding that it is already banned in 18 European countries and several more are on the path towards banning it.
Saeima deputy Ramona Petraviča said the very fact that animals are kept in cages is readily disgusting, as those animals have very little space to move about and they have to to sort out natural needs in the same small space. The politician compared it to keeping people in cages smaller than 1 m2.
Petraviča stresses that most people support banning fur farming. The deputy also said fur harvest is impossible without breach of animal rights. Additionally, the contribution fur farming brings to the national economy and the volume of paid taxes is minimal. On top of that, beneficiaries of those businesses reside in western European countries, she adds.
Saeima deputy Edgars Tavars said it is good that following the passing of the legislative draft this long discussion will be punctuated with ‘if not a period, then a proper comma’. With this issue the Saeima will demonstrate that fur farming for fashion alone is unacceptable, said the politician.
Parliamentarian Viesturs Liepkalns said even before becoming a member of the Saeima he thought about supporting animal rights activists’ promoted initiatives if we were a politician. The politician said the parliament can be largely unified in relation to at least a single issue.
Deputy Sandis Riekstiņš said he will support amendments, adding that members of Attīstībai/Par! used debates to «film promotional videos» for themselves. The politician said that
if AP considers fur farming unethical business, members of the party should use the same arguments for legislative drafts aimed ad restricting gambling businesses.
Otherwise it would look as if the state of mink worry politicians more than people, says Riekstiņš.
Saeima member Māris Mičerevskis said he agrees with Riekstiņš. He pointed attention towards the «argument over who supports the legislative draft more» during debates, sarcastically adding that he supports it «more than all the people who have debated so far».
Deputy Rihards Kols mentioned that the legislative draft may be expanded with a proposal to ban imports of fur products to Latvia.
Chairman of Latvian Farmers Union Armands Krauze mentioned during debates that he will not support this ‘two-sided’ proposal. He said the reason is because it does not even touch on the poor treatment of animals. He mentioned that he looks at amendments both emotionally and as a farmer. Krauze said the hens, «whose eggs you people eat», are not allowed to walk about freely, and sows are kept in very small pens and only perform the function of producing piglets. «But when you eat pork chops everything is fine,» said the politician.
Latvian Green Party’s Chairman Edgars Tavars, who is also the co-chairman of the Union of Greens and Farmers, said animal husbandry for killing and getting a fancy accessory and cannot be compared to animal husbandry for the purpose of farming food, which is needed for human survival. No one is trying to prohibit the hunting of animals for their pelts, added Tavars.
Deputy Vjačeslavs Dombrovskis said he does not recall debates about the 2022 state budget or debates on energy price rise being as lively.
Dombrovskis allowed the 13th Saeima may go down in history with the fact that it did not hold debates regarding topics important to Latvian residents seriously. The politician believes members of the coalition passionately discuss two topics only – animal protection and next week’s foreign affairs debates, about Russia, Ukraine, international diplomacy and war. The Saeima deputy added, however, that all of these topics are important as well.
The legislative draft was prepared by members from nearly all factions of Saeima’s ruling coalition and opposition: Krista Baumane, Linda Medne, Dace Rukšāne-Ščipčinska, Atis Lejiņš, Ilmārs Dūrītis, Regīna Ločmele, Edgars Tavars, Ramona Petraviča, Valērijs Agešins, Evija Papule and Inguna Rībena.
The annotation to the legislative draft mentions that fur farming is an unethical, cruel and gradually disappearing form of business in our modern time. It is also added that it pollutes the environment and does not contribute much to the national economy.
The goal of these amendments if banning fur farming in Latvia in its entirely.
It is planned for amendments to come into force on 1 January 2026. At the same time, amendments to not prohibit the acquisition of fur pelts through hunting or commerce.
Authors of amendments note that sociological surveys prove most residents do not consider fur harvest a justifiable reason to breed and kill animals. Many countries have already banned fur farming in response to public outcry.
According to results of a survey performed in June 2021 by SKDS, 63% of Latvian residents do not support of breeding animals for the express purpose of harvesting their fur. More than 40 000 people have signed an online petition, asking the Saeima to ban fur farming. More than 50 Latvian NGO’s support this initiative, politicians add.
Latvian Saeima conceptually supports severely limiting fur farming
