One year later: Why has Sweden still not banned fur farming?
On September 13, 2023, the Swedish government announced a 180 million allocation for a voluntary phase-out subsidy for mink farmers. They also announced plans to investigate a potential ban on fur farming. While the number of mink farms has been halved one year later, the government still faces significant steps to deliver on its promises.
Project 1882 has spent over 50 years advocating for a ban on fur farming, making last autumn’s announcement a significant milestone in this long-standing fight. The Swedish government announced a voluntary phase-out subsidy for mink farmers and an inquiry into a potential ban. However, on the anniversary of the announcement, Project 1882 notes that political progress has been minimal.
– A year after the announcement, the money has still not started to be paid out, and we have not seen any sign of the promised investigation. We are now halfway through the government’s term, and their vague statements are inadequate. The investigation must run in parallel with the voluntary phase-out, says Benny Andersson, CEO of Project 1882.
However, the announcement has set things in motion. The industry organization “Svensk Mink” welcomed the news of the phase-out subsidy, confirming that the last mink farm would soon be closed. At this time last year, there were 18 mink farms in Sweden, and today only half remain.
The fur industry has no future, either in Sweden or across the rest of Europe. Of 27 member states in the EU, 20 have legislated or otherwise moved forward towards a ban. In recent years, the European initiative “Fur Free Europe” has further weakened the fur industry in the remaining countries, such as Sweden and Finland. Public opinion against fur farming is strong in Sweden, where eight out of ten people want to see a ban, which contributed to Project 1882 collecting nearly 100,000 of Fur Free Europe’s 1.5 million signatures. When the Swedish government gave its announcement last autumn, references were made to a potential ban on fur farming at the EU level.
– Fur farming is both unethical and a disgrace for countries that consider themselves advanced in animal welfare. It is time for the government to fulfil its promise and shut down the Swedish fur industry once and for all, concludes Benny Andersson.
Learn more about how Project 1882 is working to dismantle the fur industry.
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