In a monumental victory for animal protection, the Romanian Parliament has voted overwhelmingly to ban chinchilla and mink fur farming, the only two fur farm industries that exist in the country. Romania now becomes the 16th EU Member State to ban fur farming, marking a significant milestone in the global campaign to end the cruel practice of breeding and killing animals for fur fashion.

In May 2022, Respect for Animals and members of the Fur Free Alliance attended a round table event in the Romanian parliament urging politicians to support a fur farming ban. According to a nationwide survey commissioned by HSI/Europe, over 67% of Romanians support a fur farming ban, further emphasizing public sentiment against the fur industry.

The bill was originally proposed after a shocking undercover investigation exposed appalling conditions on fur farms in Romania. Chinchillas were filmed confined in small, filthy wire cages, only to be killed for fur fashion at just a few months old in improvised gas chambers or by having their necks broken. Now that the bill has been voted through in the Chamber of Deputies, once promulgated it will make fur farming illegal in Romania effective 1st of January 2027. Although the legislation must be promulgated by President Klaus Iohannis and published in the Official Journal to become effective, this is anticipated to pass without delay.

The fur industry in Romania is in decline, with the number of fur farms having dropped dramatically from more than 150 in 2013 to around a dozen in 2022 including two large mink farms producing approximately 100,000 mink pelts and 15,000 chinchilla pelts annually. The ban in Romania also tackles the environmental and human health hazards linked to fur farming, including the spread of zoonotic diseases, positioning Romania within the broader European movement that emphasizes animal welfare and sustainable practices.

Joh Vinding, chairman of the Fur Free Alliance, said: “This decision is a historic moment for animal protection in Romania. The Fur Free Alliance supported this campaign by holding an event in the Romanian parliament last year, and we are delighted to see the work of our local member group in Romania, HSI/Europe, bear fruit. All across Europe the message to legislators is loud and clear: it’s time to make fur history.”