Europe’s largest fur producer, Poland, has made a groundbreaking decision to ban fur farming, putting pressure on the UK government to follow suit with imports. The ban, signed into law by Polish President Karol Nawrocki on Tuesday, marks a major shift in the global fur farming landscape.
In a historic move, President Nawrocki stated, “Moments ago, I signed the Animal Protection Act, which introduces a ban on fur farming in Poland. This is a decision that Poles have awaited for many years. A decision that reflects our compassion, our civilizational maturity, and our respect for all living creatures.”
The ban was passed by the lower house of parliament with a rare display of cross-party consensus. Currently, around 3 million foxes, raccoon dogs, chinchillas, and minks are kept on Polish fur farms annually.
The bill, co-drafted by the Polish branch of animal protection charity Open Cages and MP Małgorzata Tracz, includes several key provisions. These include an immediate ban on establishing new fur farms, an 8-year transition period for existing operations, degressive compensation for breeders over the first 5 years, and 12 months’ severance pay and career transition support for farm workers.
Connor Jackson, CEO of UK animal protection charity Open Cages, and director of an award-winning documentary on Polish fur farming, expressed his delight with the ban, stating, “Fur farming is the epitome of everything wrong with how we treat animals. The idea of keeping millions of foxes and minks in tiny wire cages all their lives until they go mad, all for a bit of fur on a coat that no one needs, beggars belief. But I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”
Open Cages is now calling for a ban on the import of fur into the UK. “We did the right thing by banning fur farming within our own shores in 2000, but as long as we import and sell fur in our stores, we are still supporting this industry,” added Jackson.
Fur farming has long been a controversial issue, with animals typically being kept in small cages and subjected to cruel slaughter methods. The UK was a pioneer in banning fur farming on ethical grounds in 2000, and since then, 23 other countries have followed suit.
In 2012, members of Open Cages in Poland released footage from 52 fur farms, owned by large producers, documenting shocking conditions. Despite the UK deeming fur farming too cruel to be practiced within its borders, it remains legal to import and sell fur from countries like Poland. A coalition of UK animal advocacy organizations, called Fur Free Britain, is now calling for an import and sales ban, with a petition to ban fur imports recently delivered to the Prime Minister with one and a half million signatures.
Claire Bass, senior director of public affairs at Humane World for Animals UK, commented on the situation, stating, “The fur farming ban in Poland demonstrates how the world is turning its back on fur. Banning fur farming here in the UK yet continuing to import fur from overseas is a double standard that millions of British people, and more than 200 cross-party politicians, want to see ended. The fur trade is cruel to animals, dangerous to public health, and totally unnecessary. This move by Poland should be a wake-up call for Westminster. The Labour Government promised a huge boost to animal welfare and backing Ruth Jones’ Private Members’ bill is a crucial way to start delivering on that.”
Open Cages, a UK animal protection organization with sister branches in six countries, has been campaigning for over 20 years to end fur farming globally. For more information, please contact CEO Connor Jackson at +447504580011 or connor.jackson@opencages.org. Photos from the October 17, 2025 parliamentary vote and the link to the legislation can be found on the Open Cages website. Additionally, photos from Open Cages’ 2012 investigation are also available.
