Germany Just Shut Down Its Last Fur Farm

Germany’s last remaining fur farmer has closed.

The Rahden-based farm “now stands empty,” according to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), signaling the end of fur production in yet another EU country.

According to PETA, the farmer shut down ahead of the 2022 deadline as he was struggling under government pressure and frequent, unannounced inspections. He said he also felt the weight of activist pressures — PETA has been campaigning strongly in the country for more than two decades.

Germany banned fur farming in 2017 — the country gave farmers a five-year transition period to fully phase out of the industry. PETA credits its heavy campaigning efforts, petitions, protests, and anti-fur ads for helping push the legislation through into law.

According to PETA, the largest animal rights organization in the world, eighty-five percent of the fur industry’s skins come from animals held captive on fur factory farms. “These farms often hold thousands of animals, and the kinds of abuse that the facilities engage in are remarkably similar around the globe.”

Fashion labels across the globe including Armani and Tom Ford have begun shifting to faux fur in their collections. Luxury label designers are taking a stand against the practice: Donatella Versace announced a shift away from fur last year, saying she doesn’t want to kill animals for fashion. Diane von Furstenberg recently pulled fur and angora from its collections, and Jean-Paul Gautier called the industry “absolutely deplorable” last November.

And runway shows have followed suit; Amsterdam Fashion Week last month went fur-free as did London Fashion Week last fall.

A growing number of governments are passing anti-fur legislation; in the EU, Norway and the Czech Republic both announced bans on fur farming last year. Los Angeles became the largest city in the U.S. to ban fur in February, and New York City is now poised to pass similar legislation.

According to PETA “many powerful voices” including Jhené Aiko, Penélope Cruz, Taraji P. Henson, Eva Mendes, and first lady Melania Trump have all lent their voice to anti-fur campaigns, “after learning about the horrific cruelty behind every fur jacket, trim, or cuff.”