They say that a leopard cannot change its spots, but thanks to a landmark vote in Poland, they can feel a little more secure about hanging onto them. As the largest producer of fur in Europe, and second only to China worldwide, Poland’s decision to end fur farming sets the standard for countries that have yet to make such a commitment to end animal cruelty, and puts pressure on countries that continue to import such questionable commodities.
President Karol Nawrocki, who took office earlier this year, was proud to announce the law that immediately prohibits any new fur farms from being established, and sets out an eight-year plan to phase out current operations. Although many animal rights activists consider this groundbreaking decision to be long overdue, there are sure to be those who will see it as a betrayal of culture and tradition. However, President Nawrocki supports this new reform that sends a message of “respect for all living creatures.” 1
The legislation provides financial incentives for farmers who end operations before the eight-year deadline, and also allows for twelve months of severance pay and career transition support for workers. Poland becomes the 18th EU country to ban fur farming, a move that was pioneered by the United Kingdom in 2003 and Austria in 2005. Although it might not seem like such a significant move to some, to have such a significant player in the fur trade as Poland close down production, sends a message to the rest of the world that they, as a nation, are willing to put compassion ahead of profits, ending the slaughter of millions of foxes, minks, raccoon dogs, and chinchillas each year.
However, it highlights the hypocrisy of laws that still allow for the import and sale of fur and fur products in most of the countries that have outlawed its production. At the time of writing, only Israel has banned the sale of fur, while some European countries are working on legislation to stop the importation and sale of fur products or impose stricter regulations about how the fur they import is produced.
Of course, demand is what drives supply, and for the world of fashion to become completely fur-free, consumers must stop buying, a concept being embraced by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), which announced on December 3rd that fur will not be welcome at next year’s New York Fashion Week. 2 In collaboration with Humane World for Animals and Collective Fashion Justice, the CFDA says that the new regulations will take effect from September 2026, which leaves something of a question mark hanging over the winter/fall program, which takes place in February; will fur fashion vanish gracefully, or with a bang?
Hopefully, the rest of the world will soon follow Poland’s brave new position, and we can leave fur coats where they belong – on the animals. After all, when it comes to fashion, the only good fur is faux.
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Feature Image Credit: CrunchyBeans, Shutterstock
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