Cities and Countries That Have Banned Fur Farming and Fur Sales

List of Countries That Have Banned Fur Farming

Israel, in June 2021, became the world’s first country to prohibit the sales of fur. Israel’s ban allows exemptions for the use of fur in ‘scientific research, education or instruction, and for religious purposes or tradition.’

Estonia introduced a ban on fur farming which will become effective in 2026, started in June 2021

France announced in September 2020, a ban on mink fur farming with a 5-year phase-out period.

Ireland committed to a ban and legislation to prohibit fur farming, in preparation starting in 2020

Slovakia (Passed a ban in 2019; new ban will go into effect in 2021, complete phase out in 2025)

Serbia (Banned fur farming in 2009, 10-year phase-out, ban begins January 2019. Animals can no longer be killed for their fur in Serbia!)

Luxembourg (Passed a fur farming ban in 2018; ban begins October 2018)

Belgium (The country banned fur farming in 2018, all all fur farms will be shut down by 2023)

India (Passed a ban on seal fur in 2018)

Norway (Ban on fur farms approved 2018; phase out of fur farms entirely by 2025)

Germany (Voted for fur ban in 2017; all fur farms to close by 2022)

Denmark (Passed a ban on fox farming in 2009; to become law in 2017)

Croatia (Passed a fur farming ban in 2006; 10-year phase-out period ends January 2017)

Bosnia and Herzegovina (Passed a fur farming ban in 2017)

Republic of Macedonia (Passed a fur farming ban in 2017)

Macedonia (Fur farming is illegal starting in 2017)

Czech Republic (Passed a fur farming ban in 2017; becomes law in January 2019)

Slovenia (Ban on hunting animals and fur farming starts 2016)

Bosnia & Herzegovina (Ban on fur farming starts January 2018)

Japan (Fur farm ban started in 2016)

New Zealand (Passed a ban on the importation of minks, and ends mink farming in 2013)

Netherlands (Passed a ban on fox fur farming in 1995, and chinchilla farming in 1997; banned the farming and manufacturing of mink entirely by 2024)

Hungary (Passed a ban on all fur farming, except for chinchillas and rabbits, became law in 2011)

Austria (Passed a fur farming ban in 2004)

United Kingdom (The UK banned fur farming in 2000. England and Wales both banned fur farming, and Scotland and Northern Ireland joined in 2002)

List of Cities That Have Banned the Sale of Fur

San Francisco, CA (Banned the sale and manufacturing of fur in 2018, effective January 2019)

Los Angeles, CA (Banned the sale and manufacturing of fur in 2018, effective January 2020)

West Hollywood, CA (Banned the sale of new fur, effective September 2013)

Berkeley, CA (Banned the sale of fur from all species of animals in 2017, effective 2018)

Sao Paulo, Brazil (Banned the importation and sale of all fur items in 2015, and banned fur farming earlier)

List of Countries That Have Passed Stricter Fur Farming Regulations or Partial Bans

Hungary introduced an immediate ban on the breeding of mink, foxes, polecats and coypu for fur, in November 2020, following concerns on animal welfare and coronavirus outbreaks on mink fur farms across Europe. The ban was introduced as a precautionary measure to prevent fur farmers from moving their operations there. Hungary (In 2011, modifications were made to an existing law, that fully included a ban on all fur bearing animals used on fur farms, with the exception of angora rabbits and Chinchillas.)

India (In 2018, India passed a ban on seal fur, joining the United States as well as Belarus, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Russia, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the 28 countries of the European Union.

New Zealand (In 2013, New Zealand passed a prohibition on the importation of minks, which effectively bans mink farming in the country. However, the country still allows fur farming of ferrets.)

Netherlands (The Parliament passed the banning of the breeding of minks by the end of 2020. Initially the date set for 2024, but with COVID-19 and the transmission of COVID-19 from animals to humans on fur farms, the date was moved to Dec. 2020).

Denmark (Legislation was adopted in 2007 to improve the welfare of foxes on fur farms and improve the welfare of all fur-bearing animals on fur farms. Then the country passed a ban on fox farming in 2009 with a full ban by 2017. For the largest fox farms the ban is extended to 2023).

Sweden (In 1995, Sweden passed a law that foxes cannot be caged, which killed fox fur farming entirely and all fur farms have since shut down)

Switzerland (Fur farming no longer exists in Switzerland, because a law was passed requiring animals not to be caged, which made fur farming unprofitable and all fur farms have shut down)

Italy (Because of stricter fur farming laws requiring foxes and chinchillas to have pens on the ground—not cages—and strong animal welfare requirements for them—all chinchilla fur farms were shut down by 2012)

List of U.S. States That Have Banned Fur Sales & Manufacturing

California – (2019) In October 2019, the State of California became the first state in the U.S. to ban fur. The state’s governor, Gavin Newsom, signed into law AB 44, which bans the sales and manufacturing of new clothing and accessories made from fur, starting in early 2023. The only exceptions are: cowhide, deerskin, sheepskin and goatskin. In September 2019, it became the first state to ban fur trapping.