Eurogroup for Animals reported in early 2021 that Estonia’s biggest fur farm, which once contained around 160,000 animals, was empty.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Joanne Redwood
In a positive step forward for animals, Estonia is set to become the
first Baltic country to ban fur farming.
The Riigikogu, the country’s parliament, passed the landmark
legislation with 55 of 101 members voting in favor. The changes
which will becomes effective in January 2026. In the meantime,
Estonian industries will begin taking steps to reduce fur farming.
The new law follows a survey last year that found that 75% of
Estonians oppose fur farming, which has seen a drastically reduced
presence in the country in recent years, according to The Beet.
Earlier this year, nonprofit Eurogroup for Animals reported that
Estonia’s biggest fur farm, which once contained around 160,000
animals, was empty. While the number of fur farms that remain in the
country is unclear, the visible decrease of these horrifying
establishments reflects a growing disapproval of the industry.
Estonia’s newly imposed ban also comes amid heightened pressure for
fur bans throughout western Europe and elsewhere in the world during
the COVID-19 pandemic. Last October, Israel became the first country
to enact a nationwide ban on buying and selling animal furs.
“This is an important milestone in stopping animal torture for fur,”
said Lady Freethinker President Nina Jackel. “No coat or trinket is
worth animals’ lives, and I encourage more countries to follow
Estonia’s lead.”