The Socio-Economic Impact of European
Fur Farming
 This brochure is the result of a joint
initiative on the part of the European Fur Breeders' Association
(EFBA) and the International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF). It is
available in 10 languages Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German,
Greek, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, and Swedish. The text which
appears on this site is in English. If you would like to view a
downloadable pdf of this text as a printed brochure, click below:
To view the pdf versions, you will need the
free Adobe Acrobat Reader, click
here to download it now. If you would like more information
about the European Fur Breeders' Association (EFBA), please click here.
Contents
 1. Where does fur come
from?
2.
Worldwide Fur Farming
3. EU fur sector in
figures (2002)
4. From farm to
consumer
5.
From farm to consumer - a truly international trade
6. The fur sector in
Europe
7.
Research yields results that benefit animals
8. The regulation of fur
farming in the EU
9. Consumer support for
fur
10.
Further information...
1. Where does fur come
from?
 Fur is obtained from both farmed and wild
species of fur bearing animals. 85% of world pelt production
originates from farmed species that have been domesticated.
The wild species that enter the fur trade
are normally taken for pest/predator control or wildlife management
reasons.
Fur farming started at the end of the 19th
century in America and spread to Europe in the beginning of the
20th. Today, it is an important branch of animal husbandry in many
countries. The animals have adapted to their farm environment and
the farming systems have evolved to meet the animals' needs. These
systems provide high standards of animal welfare, housing, husbandry
methods and disease control.
The main farmed species are mink, fox,
fitch (polecat), finn racoon, chinchilla and nutria, the first two
being the most important ones.
2. Worldwide Fur
Farming
3. EU fur sector in
figures (2002)
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Number of fur farms in EU Member States (as at
1/5/04)
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6,500 |
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Number of EU-based
enterprises handling fur
(retailers, dressers, auction
houses, etc.)
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40,000 |
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Value of EU farmed fur
(skin auction price value)
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625 million Euro |
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Number of
full time
employees in fur sector
part time
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106,000
108,000
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Value of
fur sales in
the EU 1998/1999
fur sales in the EU 1999/2000
fur sales
in the EU 2000/2001
fur sales in the EU 2001/2002
fur
sales in the EU 2002/2003
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3,936 million US$
4,119 million
US$
4,341 million US$
4.652 million US$
4,525 million
US$
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Amount of
animal
by-products fed yearly to fur animals in the EU;
poultry
processing
fish and fish processing
slaughterhouse |
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220,000 tonnes
365,000
tonnes
62,000 tonnes
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4. From farm to consumer
5. From farm to consumer -
a truly international trade
The fur sector is complex and international
with the fur pelt produced by the farmer normally passing through
several countries and undergoing various processes before it reaches
the final consumer. Though fur is largely produced in countries with
cold climates, the end products are worn all over the world.
Most of the world's farmed fur is produced
by European farmers. In 2002, Europe accounted for 70% of global
mink production and 63% of fox production. Denmark is the world's
largest producer and exporter of mink skins - the staple raw
material of the fur industry worldwide while Finland is the world's
largest producer of fox pelts - another industry staple.
To produce a pelt, the farmer cannot work
alone. The farmer's network includes links with, for example, feed
kitchens, transport companies, specialised auction houses,
veterinar-ians, seasonal workers, etc. This network becomes truly
international when the pelts are sold as raw dried skins at the
auction house.
The world's largest fur auction houses are
in Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo, Saint Petersburg, Seattle and
Toronto. The bulk of the pelts are purchased by buyers from all over
the world. From the auction house, the pelt moves to be dressed and
dyed. In the EU, the main centres for these processes are in Italy,
France and Germany. Subsequent to being dressed and dyed the pelts
are ready to be manufac-tured into a fur garment or incorporated
into a textile garment or used to make accessories. 
Manufacture of full fur garments,
combination garments and garments with trim takes place worldwide.
Today, fur garments and accessories reach the final consumer via a
wide range of retail outlets: specialised fur shops, department
stores and fashion boutiques.
6. The fur sector in
Europe
In the EU, fur farming is concentrated in
Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands. The most important Member
States as far as fur garment manufacture is concerned are Greece,
Italy, Germany and Spain.
Fur farming was worth 514 million Euro to
Danish farmers in 2002 and fur is that country's third largest
agricultural export product after bacon and cheese. In Finland the
annual value of fur production at 250 million Euro is greater than
that of beef. Fur farming is also important in Central and Eastern
European countries such as Latvia, Poland, Lithuania and Estonia. In
Poland the production figure for mink skins was 600,000 in
2002.
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1. Fur farm
2. Fur auction
3.
Dressing/Dyeing
4. Working a fur
technique | |
Revenue from fur farming allows many
farmers to supplement income from other agricultural activities. In
this, fur farming contributes to maintaining viable rural
communities. Fur farming also allows farming to remain economically
viable in areas where climatic conditions limit the options open to
farmers in terms of what they can produce and market profitably – in
Finland an estimated 50% of fur farmers rely exclusively on fur
farming for their incomes. Even where climatic limitations are not
an issue, other factors can limit the alternative possibilities open
to farmers e.g. quotas for products such as beef and milk,
environmental and planning restrictions, etc. It is important to
note that unlike many other farm animal husbandries, fur farming
exists without the need for EU subsidies.
Fur farming provides an efficient use for
animal by-products that are purchased from fish and poultry
processors. Furanimals in the EU consume on an annual basis 220,000
tonnes of by-products from poultry processing, 62,000 tonnes of
slaughterhouse by-products and 365,000 tonnes of fish and fish
processing by-products. The consumption by fur animals of these by-
products not intended for human use helps to keep down the actual
cost of human food production.
On-going research is an important aspect of
European fur farming and a considerable amount of research has been
done with the findings incorporated into law and/or farming practice
to benefit the animals in areas such as housing, disease prevention,
nutrition, husbandry and breeding. Research is paid for by farmers
and national governments.
When it comes to the manufacture of fur
garments, Greece is the most important EU Member State. The fur
sector dominates the economies of two areas (Kastoria and Siatista)
where opportunities outside the fur sector are very limited.
However, the EU is not just a producer of
raw pelts and a manufacturer of fur garments; it is also a leading
consumer of finished fur garments and fur is very much a part of the
EU's fashion industry. Fur sales in the EU have been increasing
sharply since the mid-1990s thanks in large measure to product
development - e.g. lighter furs, sheared furs, knitted furs, and to
a dramatic increase in demand for so-called "combination" garments
(i.e. fur combined with other materials).
Sales of full fur and fur trim in the EU in
the 2002/2003 season amounted to an estimated 4,525 million US$.
7. Research yields results
that benefit animals
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1. Fur farming research
2. Veterinary care on a fur
farm
3. Distributing straw on a
fur farm | |
A considerable amount of research has been
undertaken into different aspects of fur farming. In 1999,
government and fur sector research spending on fur farming in four
of the main producing countries - Denmark, Finland, Norway and The
Netherlands - exceeded Euro 1.600.000. Research results have in many
instances been incorporated into law and/or farm practices to
benefit farmed fur animals in areas such as:
- housing (e.g. the introduction of nest boxes for mink and
observation platforms for foxes)
- disease prevention (e.g. Aleutian disease)
- nutrition (e.g. composition, hygiene and control of feed)
- husbandry (e.g. the promotion of early handling of kits)
- breeding and selection (e.g. selection for more confident
animals).
Fur farmers are very conscious of the
importance of continuing with this scientific research and this for
two key reasons. First, fur farmers wish to ensure that farming
systems continue to have a high standard of animal welfare. Second,
they want to ensure that any new rules or regulations governing the
sector will have a sound scientific basis. To these ends, European
fur farmers have been instrumental in ensuring the establishment of
the Fur Animal Welfare Research Committee. This independent group,
set up in early 1999, includes scientists from the UK, Denmark,
Finland, Norway and The Netherlands. It reports regularly to the
Council of Europe's Standing Committee that deals with farm animal
welfare and the Fur Animals Recommendation.
The health and welfare of their animals
will continue to be a preoccupation of fur farmers. Keen that
production systems should evolve in line with increasing scientific
and practical knowledge of the animals' needs, European fur farmers
will continue to support scientific research and to embrace its
practical results. Furthermore, farmers will continue working in
line with legislation at national and European level.
8. The regulation of fur
farming in the EU
Fur farming is well regulated at both
national and EU level.
EU Directive 98/58 on the welfare of farm
animals covers fur animals. Directive 93/119 deals with the killing
of farmed animals and specifies the permitted methods for individual
species. The EU Treaty protects the free trade in live animals and
skins. Additionally, fur farming is covered by the common market
organisation established by Regulation 827/68.
The Council of Europe adopted a
Recommendation on the keeping of fur animals in 1990 and revised it
in 1999. The text was developed with input from EU Member States,
veterinarians, animal welfare groups and farmers' organisations. The
Recommendation serves as the base for legislation on fur farming at
national level and contains provisions on housing, stockman-ship and
inspection, management, research, killing methods and equipment. It
is designed to ensure the health and welfare of the fur farmed
species it covers (mink, polecat/ferret/fitch, red fox, arctic fox,
coypu/nutria, chinchilla and finn racoon).
EU environmental laws that apply to
agricultural activities also cover fur farming. In the main fur
farming countries the farms are inspected regularly by national
authorities and such inspec-tions deal with animal welfare and
environment protection.
9. Consumer support for
fur
 In the last 5 years fur has re-established its
position in the fashion world with in excess of 350 leading
international fashion designers working with fur in their
collections. Fur is not confined to exclusive or expensive clothing
or to full fur garments, it is also used for trim and accessories.
This popularity of fur among designers and consumers has been
greatly helped by product development e.g. the production of lighter
furs, sheared furs, knitted furs. There has also been a dramatic
increase in so-called "combination" garments in recent years, i.e.
fur combined with other materials (e.g. coats lined with fur, wool
jackets worked with fur and textile garments with fur trim).
Consumer support for fur and fur farming
has also been revealed in independent surveys and polls. In the
Netherlands a recent consumer survey revealed that 71% of the
population agreed with the statement "it makes in principle no
difference for what reason you keep animals as long as you take care
of their welfare". The latest poll (results released in November
2000) shows that 67% of the Dutch population are of the opinion that
people should have a free choice to wear fur. In the UK a February
2000 poll revealed that 81% of people believe that it is acceptable
to farm animals for any purpose, provided there is good animal
welfare. 62% of people interviewed consider that it is
environmentally sound to use natural fibres such as wool, silk, fur
and leather.
A public opinion poll undertaken in Finland
in 1998 revealed that 73% of people had a positive opinion about fur
as garments and accessories while 69% of people had a positive
attitude towards fur farming. A January 2001 poll showed that 70% of
Finns see fur farming in conformity with western moral values.
Demand for fur garments exists in all
Member States and sales of fur are highest in Italy, Spain, Germany,
France and Austria.
10. Further
information...
First established in 1968, the European Fur Breeders'
Association (EFBA) is the umbrella organisation of 15 breeder
associations representing 6,000 farmers throughout Europe. In close
co-operation with its member organisations, EFBA works to promote a
realistic image of the European fur farming sector.
First established in 1949, the International Fur Trade
Federation (IFTF) is an independent federation of 35 national
fur trade associations and organisations representing 29 countries.
Through its work and the activities of its Members, IFTF seeks to
promote a factual image of today's fur trade.
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