Here’s a selection of what we have done in 2024:
Represented animal protection groups from across Europe at a key EU meeting We were asked to use our experience and expertise to represent animal protection groups in the Fur Free Alliance at various key meetings at the EU level, starting with the ‘EFSA’ fur animals stakeholder meeting in January all the way to a scientific technical working group on fur animals, just last week.
Worked to see a new bill introduced to ban fur sales and imports in Britain
A private members’ bill to end the import and sale of real fur in Britain has been introduced to Parliament by Ruth Jones, Labour MP for Newport West and Islwyn. The bill would extend current trade bans on cat, dogs and seal fur to other species, including mink, foxes, raccoon dogs, chinchillas, coyotes and more. The crucial second reading of the bill will take place on Friday 13 June 2025.
Mark Glover, Campaigns Director, said: “Thank you to Ruth Jones MP for taking on this issue. We will be using our experience of successful fur legislation to do everything to ensure this bill succeeds. Fur is cruel and the British people want it banned.”
Helped persuade Max Mara to finally ditch fur After a global campaign, Max Mara Fashion Group officially announced a fur-free policy.
Respect for Animals had joined colleagues from other animal protection groups are an events outside the Max Mara shop on Old Bond Street, London. The campaign saw more than 270,000 emails, 5,000 phone calls and countless social media posts delivering a clear message asking Max Mara to go fur-free, as well as a hot air balloon blitz over the headquarters in Reggio Emilia. Activists around the world came together to ask Max Mara to do the right thing, and they listened, making it clear fur has no place in fashion.
Supported campaigns around the world We are proud to have contacts all over the world and happily use of knowledge and ideas to support various anti-fur campaigns led by devoted and trusted activists.
This year, we worked with our friends in Lithuania to successfully defend the fur farming ban, helped support Romania ban the farming of foxes and chinchillas for their fur, and aided advances in the campaign in Poland and Bulgaria – to name just a few.
Expanded the Fur Free Retailer scheme Retailers and brands based in the UK continue to commit to fur free fashion. The popular online womenswear brand Joanie became a Fur Free Retailer. Also, the newly launched eponymous brand line of renowned fashion designer Phoebe Philo has also joined Fur Free Retailer, another example of high-end fashion opposing the cruelty of fur.
Respect for Animals is the UK administrator of the global Fur Free Retailer scheme, which is run through the Fur Free Alliance.
What is to come in 2025…
– New exciting campaigns will be launched: we have BIG announcements in the new year – Parliament considers the bill to ban fur in Britain – EU’s ‘EFSA’ publishes scientific opinion on the welfare of fur farmed animals – European Commission examines the impacts of a fur farming ban and prepares its final response to the Fur Free Europe ECI |