We have done it: Italy bans fur farming!

Finally, in Italy, animals will no longer be bred to obtain fur: a historic victory, which we have worked on for many years, which took place thanks to the approval of the bill that we have proposed since 2011, taken up in amendment number 157.04 to the Budget Law 2022, signed by Senator Loredana De Petris and 9 other senators.

A victory that is the result of the tireless work of contact, information and collaboration carried out in recent years with all the institutional subjects that can be involved, and which we share with the tens of thousands of people who have supported our battle and signed our petitions.

Over 60,000 minks were killed every year in Italy for the "value" of their fur. But from 1st January 2022 this cruelty will never be repeated. 

"Italy is a more civilized country, we have put an end to a cruel, anachronistic, unjustifiable industry that has no more reason to exist in a civil society where the value of respect for animals, as sentient beings, is always more widespread and rooted”, said Simone Pavesi, Animal Free Fashion Area Manager.

With the #EmergenzaVisoni campaign started in 2020 after the discovery of the first outbreak in a Dutch mink farm, we have reached an important milestone: the temporary suspension of the farms until 31st December 2021 (with two Ordinances by the Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza): provision which avoided the birth of 40.000 minks otherwise destined to become furs and which significantly reduced the risk of the formation of new outbreaks after those already intercepted in 2 Italian farms.

And after the denunciation, we gave #VoceaiVisoni with a new campaign launched in October precisely to change that temporary breeding ban (which will expire on December 31st), into a definitive farming ban!

The approved amendment

• Fur farming ban (for all species, not only mink), as already established by almost twenty other European countries, from 1st January 2022.
• Dismantling by 30th June 2022 of the 5 latest farms which in 2020 produced 60,000 mink per year; and, at the same time, confirmation of the breeding ban already in place since last January for the 7,039 breeders still held in these farms.
• A Decree of the Ministry of Ecological Transition, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health will be issued by 31st January 2022 to regulate eventual change of ownership, sterilization and detention of mink from former fur farms to sanctuaries/shelters preferably managed directly or in collaboration with recognized animal rights associations.
• State indemnities up to a maximum of 3 millionS euros for the closure and disposal of each farm, as well as 3 millionS euros in total for their conversion into agrivoltaic the production of clean energy, to be assigned by 31 January 2022.