Fur farming was banned by Acts of Parliament in England and Wales in 2000, and Scotland and Northern Ireland in 2002, making the UK the first country in the world to ban this inhumane industry. To date, 21 countries have now followed our lead. However the UK cannot truly claim to be a leader in animal welfare when we continue to import fur produced in the same – or worse – conditions that are illegal in this country.
Humane World For Animals UK has been campaigning for a ban on the import and sale of fur in the UK for several years, and our campaign has received widespread cross-party support. On this page, you’ll find our fur briefing papers, selected open letters to the government, major political milestones, and policy commitments.
A gallery of MPs and Peers who are supporting the #FurFreeBritain campaign can be found here. If you’re an MP or Peer who would like to know more, support our campaign or be added to our gallery, please contact Sam Magor, Humane World For Animals UK's public affairs officer.
BRIEFINGS
Case for a Ban on Fur Imports and Sales
Fur farming and zoonotic disease risk
Furmask. 10 Reasons why Furmark will not Protect Consumers or Animals
Five Freedoms and the Fur Trade. A critical analysis of conditions filmed on two certified “high welfare” Finnish fur farms, reviewed against the Five Freedoms of animal welfare
Certified Cruel: Why WelFur fails to stop the suffering of animals on fur farms
Fur’s Dirty Footprint: Report on the environmental impacts of fur production
No Business in Fur: Economic decline in the global fur industry
Economic report: Understanding the current UK fur trade
Trapped: Exposing the Violence of Animal Trapping in the U.S., Born Free USA, Humane Society International and Humane Society of the United States
and see our press release here
POLITICAL LETTERS
Letter to Defra from over 50 MPs and Peers calling for a ban on fur imports and sales, May 2026
Letter to Defra from over 40 MPs and Peers about fur public health risk
Letter to Defra from 100+ MPs and Peers
Open letter to the Prime Minister from 50 celebrities
Letter to MPs from fur-free designer Stella McCartney
Open letter to Defra from 50 veterinary and animal behaviour experts
POLITICAL MILESTONES:
More than 50 MPs and Peers wrote to Defra Secretary of State, Emma Reynolds, on 19 May 2026 welcoming publication on the Animal Welfare Committee's opinion on the responsible sourcing of fur and the summary of responses to the 2021 Call for Evidence on the fur trade, urging action on a ban on fur imports and sales.
On 26 March 2026 the Government released the Animal Welfare Committee's report on the 'responsible sourcing of fur', commissioned in 2023. The report condemned the suffering inflicted on animals confined on fur farms or caught in brutal traps in the wild and indicated support for legislative action, stating "consumer and market forces currently do not and cannot provide sufficient pressure to adequately safeguard animal welfare." It went on to criticise industry-led certification schemes and highlighted the use of inhumane killing methods. In its recommendations the Committee stated that fur should not be sourced from animals who have not had "a life worth living" or a humane death - issues it took the industry to task for throughout the report.
The Committee stated that in its view: "Within a commercial setting it is not possible and is unlikely to ever be possible to farm species such as fox and raccoon dog without having a detrimental effect on their health and welfare, or in a way which meets their welfare needs" and that "there are no species being farmed for fur whose welfare needs are being adequately met by current standards and safeguards."
On the same day, the long-awaited responses from the 2021 call for evidence on the fur market were also released. Of the almost 30,000 responses received, 49 were identified as from fur-trade organisations and 65% of those were from outside the UK. The respondents delivered a very clear message, signalling overwhelming opposition to the fur trade, including over 96% who strongly agreed it is wrong to kill animals for the sake of their fur. It was unacceptable to produce fur from farming (96%) and trapping (97%) animals, and even when the fur produced was subject to an assurance scheme (96%), or seen as a by-product (81% and 88%) or as part of a "conservation" scheme (94%). Respondents "overwhelmingly did not support the import, sale or export of fur or fur products."
In March 2026 a Westminster Hall debate on the import and sale of fur, led by Ruth Jones MP, heard many Members of Parliament make clear arguments in favour of a FurFreeBritain. There was strong cross-party recognition, including from Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, and DUP MPs that current laws don't go far enough and allowing fur imports simply offshores cruelty. The debate included contributions from Liberal Democrat spokesperson Sarah Dyke MP and Conservative Party spokesperson Robbie Moore MP. The Defra Minister, Angela Eagle MP, reiterated the Government's commitment to set-up a working group to discuss the issue in more detail and to publish the results from both the 2021 Call for Evidence and the Animal Welfare Committee's report on fur sourcing.
The Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy, released in late December 2025, pledged to: convene a working group on fur; engage with the European Union on the issue; and to publish the results from the 2021 Call for Evidence and the Animal Welfare Committee’s report on fur sourcing. We are deeply disappointed and frustrated that the strategy did not commit to a clear ban on fur imports and sales.
While we welcome the strategy’s promises to "uphold high animal welfare standards as part of our approach to trade" we are concerned that the current negotiations for a UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement could trade away the UK’s right to ban fur imports. Humane World for Animals ran an ad campaign asking for assurance that the Government is not ‘All Fur Coat and No Knickers’, mobilising the public to call on Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds not to trade away our sovereign right to close our borders to fur and other cruel products that have long been illegal to produce in this country.
In July 2025, the European Food Safety Authority published its official scientific opinion, requested by the European Commission, on the welfare of animals kept for fur production. The scientists concluded that fur farming across the European Union fails to meet basic animal welfare needs for mink, foxes, raccoon dogs and chinchillas. This damning report increases pressure on the Government to ban the import and sale of real fur in the UK.
Ruth Jones MP was selected to ask a question during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in June 2025 and she used her question to ask if the Prime Minister would support her Private Member’s Bill to ban fur imports and sales. Keir Starmer thanked Ruth for her work on this issue and explained that next steps would be informed by the Animal Welfare Committee report when it is published.”
In June 2025 we delivered more than 1.5 million petition signatures to the Prime Minister at No. 10 Downing Street calling for the UK to ban the import and sale of fur. Representatives from Humane World for Animals, RSPCA, FOUR PAWS UK, PETA and Open Cages were joined by Ruth Jones MP, and received messages of support from TV presenter Pete Wicks and singer songwriter Will Young.
Ruth Jones MP's Private Members' bill to ban fur imports was due to be debated in Parliament on 13 June 2025 but was delayed due to the limited parliamentary time for Private Members' Bills and extended debates on the Terminally Ill Adults bill ahead of it in the PMB ballot.
In March 2025 we welcomed almost 30 MPs and their staff to a parliamentary drop-in event to discuss the serious public health risks associated with fur trade, as well as the terrible suffering of animals on fur farms. We were hugely encouraged to hear Alistair Carmichael MP, who chairs the committee responsible for scrutinising the work of Defra and is a strong supporter of the Fur Free Britain campaign, say that “banning fur imports is a fight we can and must win”.
In January 2025, more than 40 cross party politicians signed a letter to Defra Secretary of State, Steve Reed, raising concerns about both the public health risk and animal suffering caused by fur farming, asking him to support Ruth Jones MP’s Private Members’ Bill.
In the Scottish Parliament, a Motion submitted by Christine Grahame noting both animal welfare and disease risk concerns related to fur farming received support from more than a dozen cross party MSPs.
In recent months a number of MPs and Peers including James MacCleary, Andrew Rosindell, Steve Race, James Naish, Irene Campbell, Neil Coyle, Sarah Champion, Rosie Duffield, Shivani Raja, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Seamus Logan, Manuela Perteghella, Sarah Dyke, Baroness Gale and Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb have submitted written questions about the introduction of a ban on fur sales; the risks of zoonotic disease spread; the timings of the publication of both the Call for Evidence and the report from the Animal Welfare Committee; and the need to stop all low welfare imports, including fur.
We were delighted that over 50 MPs and Peers were able to attend a parliamentary reception on 28 November 2024 in support of our Fur Free Britain campaign.
Ruth Jones MP submitted a Private Members' Bill to ban UK fur imports and sales to the House of Commons on 16 October 2024. Speaking about the Bill, she said: “Footage of terrified foxes on fur farms breaks my heart and I can't comprehend why anyone would inflict this kind of cruelty on an animal for a bit of frivolous fashion. I have heard about the issue from hundreds of my constituents and I am delighted to introduce this Bill to reflect their concerns. It is about time we shut up shop on this cruel and unnecessary trade and a fur import ban would send a powerful message to the rest of the world.”
Soon after the new government was elected in July 2024 a number of MPs, including Bob Blackman, Jeremy Corbyn and Marsha De Cordova, raised questions about the release of the Call for Evidence and plans to ban the import and sale of fur. New Defra Minister Daniel Zeichner replied "Ministers are reviewing policies, which will be announced in the usual way, including the consultation on the Fur Market in Great Britain. Defra is continuing to build the evidence base on the fur sector. This includes commissioning our expert Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) on what constitutes responsible sourcing of fur. The report that they produce will support our understanding of the fur industry and help inform our next steps." A similar question, from Baroness Redfern, received a similar response from Baroness Hayman in the House of Lords.
In response to a question from Sarah Champion MP regarding plans for a ban on fur imports and sales, Daniel Zeichner stated "This Labour Government will introduce the most ambitious programme for animal welfare in a generation. Ministers are reviewing policies, which will be announced in due course."
During April 2024, several MPs raised questions about the release of the 2021 Call for Evidence response, including Patrick Grady, Catherine West, Ben Lake, and Henry Smith. Defra Minister Mark Spencer MP replied that he still "did not have a confirmed date for publication". Caroline Lucas asked about a timetable for publication of the Animal Welfare Committee report.
In the House of Lords, Defra Minister Lord Douglas-Miller responded to questions from Peers after Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb asked whether the Government was taking steps to ban the import and sale of fur . The Minister responded that "there is a good news story .. the volume of fur that is imported and exported has fallen by 50% in the past five years” and claimed that the Government was "continuing to build our evidence base on the fur sector". Baroness Fookes urged the Minister to make some progress on this issue in her lifetime and in response, Douglas-Miller committed "to providing a response to the consultation and the wider other brief as soon as I can." Then, after recognising the issue of zoonotic disease on fur farms, raised by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, Douglas-Miller stated that he took a personal interest in the matter and was "endeavouring to get a response shortly".
On 12 March 2024, Defra stated "At this stage we do not have a confirmed date for publication" in response to a follow-up question from Ian Byrne MP about the awaited publication of a summary of responses to the Call for Evidence.
On 7 December 2023, Defra replied to Ruth Jones MP stating: "We have also commissioned a report from our expert Animal Welfare Committee into the issue of what constitutes responsible sourcing in the fur industry. This report will help inform our next steps...". Similar answers were given to Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park and Baroness Hayman of Ullock who also raised questions in the House of Lords.
On 4 December 2023, in response to a question from Ian Byrne MP, Defra stated: A summary of responses, setting out the results and any next steps in this policy space, will be published in due course. Any future measures would be subject to consultation."
On 17 November 2023 the release of a Freedom of Information request revealed that that "over 96% [of respondents to the Call for Evidence] strongly agreed that it is wrong for animals to be killed for the sake of their fur". The information detailed correspondence between George Eustice [then Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs] and Mairi Gougeon, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, from December 2021, in which Mr Eustice stated: “The Government will therefore take forward a ban on the import and sale of fur”.
November 2023: HSI/UK ran a series of “Cruelty to Declare” adverts highlighting the cruelty of fur and calling on the British public and politicians to support a ban on the import of fur from overseas. Adverts were run in several political titles and one was displayed in Westminster underground station generating supportive comments from many politicians.
16 October 2023: In answer to a Written Question by Giles Watling MP regarding fur imports and avian flu, Trudy Harrison MP replied for Defra stating "We have committed to explore potential action in relation to animal fur, as set out in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare, and have since conducted a Call for Evidence on the fur sector. We are continuing to build our evidence base on the fur sector, which will be used to inform any future action on the fur trade. However, currently we are not seeking to restrict fur imports based on avian influenza." The Call for Evidence responses have yet to be published.
21 July 2023: In response to a Written Question by Tracey Crouch MP, Defra Minister Mark Spencer confirmed again that the Call for Evidence responses would be published "soon" and that the Animal Welfare Committee would explore this issue of "responsible sourcing".
27 June 2023: During a debate on the import and sale of fur led by Giles Watling MP and held in Westminster Hall, Defra Minister Trudy Harrison confirmed that the Call for Evidence responses would be published "very soon" and that the Animal Welfare Committee would be commissioned to produce a report on "the issue of responsible sourcing in the fur industry, including the animal welfare standards and safeguards that apply to fur imported into this country."
During the same debate, Alex Sobel MP stated: "Two decades have now passed since fur farming was banned in the UK. I am proud to confirm once again that a Labour Government would take the necessary action on the importation of fur into Britain. We are committed to this. ... A Labour Britain will be a compassionate, fur-free Britain."
27 June 2023: HSI published "Fur's Dirty Footprint", a new report revealing the high carbon footprint of fur fashion, at a well-attended event in Parliament, hosted by John McNally MP.
31 March 2023: HSI submitted evidence to the Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee's Emerging diseases and learnings from covid-19 inquiry, detailing public health concerns related to the fur trade, specifically the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to and between animals farmed for their fur and subsequent spillback to humans. See also ‘Mink farming poses risks for future viral pandemics’, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) by two leading British virologists in July 2023.
February 2023: In response to media reports following an interview with the Environment Minister, DEFRA released a statement confirming that “Future legislation to ban the imports of fur and foie gras has not been “dropped” or “shelved”.” It added “... we are committed to building a clear evidence base to inform future decisions on these issues. We are currently gathering information and speaking to a range of interested parties to help us do this.”
January 2023: HSI/UK and FOUR PAWS UK held a successful event in Parliament, joined by 35 cross-party MPs to mark the 20th anniversary of the UK fur farming ban and urge the Government to commit to banning fur imports and sales to shut down the UK trade for good.
January 2023: An official e-petition was launched calling on the Government to ban the import and sales of fur from all species. It reached 10,000 signatures in the first 24 hours.
September 2022: Campaigners gather outside Downing Street to hand in a petition which gathered over 300,000 signatures, calling on Prime Minister Liz Truss to end the “obscene double-standard" that allows fur to be imported and sold in UK shops. In parallel with the petition hand-in, Shadow Animal Welfare Minister Ruth Jones MP and Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson Tim Farron MP sent letters to Defra Secretary of State Ranil Jayawardena, each stating their party’s support for a fur import and sales ban and urging the government to release the findings of the Call for Evidence.
August 2022: During the initial Conservative leadership contest Rishi Sunak’s team responded to a letter from a group of leading animal protection NGOs stating that he “shares your high regard for animal welfare” and confirming his support for the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill saying he “looks forward to championing this Bill as it continues to progress through Parliament.” He did not comment on the question of banning fur imports. Liz Truss did not respond to a similar letter addressed to her.
May 2022: New MRP polling showed that over three quarters (77%) of UK voters want to see the government ban the importation of animal products where the production methods are already banned in the UK, including fur (fewer than one in 10 respondents disagreed). MRP analysis also revealed that support for banning fur and other cruel imports is even higher in cabinet members’ constituencies (79%) than the national average.
April 2022: Lord Goldsmith, in reply to a question from Baroness (Sue) Hayman, stated: “In relation to other measures in what would be the animals abroad Bill [in addition to a trophy hunting import ban], we have discussed in detail measures to ban the import and export of shark fins. We are working through those measures, and the noble Baroness will not be surprised to hear that I am completely committed to making sure that those measures go through. Likewise, on fur, foie gras and low-animal-welfare entertainment, we see masses of campaigning on this issue and some really shocking images... So, all these measures are progressing, and I give the House my assurance that I will I do everything I can to ensure that they make it into law.”
March 2022: Tens of thousands of members of the public wrote to their MPs in response to reports that the government was “likely to drop plans to ban imports of fur and foie gras, amid cabinet opposition.” 32 of the country’s leading animal protection organisations wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, urging him to introduce the Animals Abroad Bill, including a fur ban, and referring to the results of a new poll showing that almost two thirds of Brits want to see more action from the government on animal welfare.
February 2022: A group of Conservative MPs and Peers wrote a letter to The Times in support of bans on fur and foie gras imports in reaction to reports that moves to ban the products had been blocked by certain cabinet members.
December 2021: Minister responsible for animal welfare, Lord Goldsmith, told BBC Radio 4 that the Animals Abroad Bill would be introduced in 2022. The legislation would be wide ranging and include a ban on trophy hunting and “a whole bunch of issues like foie gras imports, fur imports, elephant attractions”.
September 2021: In Parliament’s first fur debate since leaving the European Union, cross-party MPs called on the government to ban the sale and import of real animal fur in Britain. All 18 of the MPs who spoke did so in favour of a ban, referring to the trade as ‘barbaric’, ‘cruel’, ‘utterly illogical’, ‘outmoded’ and ‘inhumane’.
August 2021: More than 100 cross-party MPs and Peers wrote to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Rt Hon George Eustice MP, calling on the UK Government to ban the import and sale of animal fur.
June 2021: Tracey Crouch MP tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM 193) urging the government to introduce legislation to ban the import and sale of fur in the UK, acknowledging polling showing 72% of the British public welcome a ban.
May 2021: Government launched a Call For Evidence on the UK fur trade, seeking to inform a policy position on whether there are further steps the UK should take in relation to the import and sale of fur from overseas. It closed on 28th June with over 30,000 responses, demonstrating the huge public interest in action on fur.
July 2020: Minister responsible for animal welfare, Lord Goldsmith, told the Daily Mirror: “Fur farming has rightly been banned in this country for nearly 20 years and at the end of the transition period we will be able to properly consider steps to raise our standards still further.”
March 2020: Tracey Crouch MP tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM267) calling on the Government to introduce legislation to ban the imports and sales of real fur products. It received the support of 140 Members of Parliament.
January 2019: Government responds to e-petition 223221, which called for a ban on the import of animal fur into the UK, including the following affirmative statement: “There will be an opportunity for government in the future, once we have left the EU and the nature of our future trading relationship has been established, to consider further steps such as a ban on fur imports or a ban on sales.” This is an improvement on the government’s response to e-petition 200888 (Jan 2018), which failed to recognise the opportunity for a ban.
July 2018: The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee publishes its report, Fur Trade in the UK. The Inquiry was launched following reports that real fur is being sold as fake fur by major high-street and online retailers. It criticised retailers, local authorities and Trading Standards for complacency in enforcing regulations around the sale of fur, and also found that the current fur labelling laws are confusing for both retailers and consumers. Having received evidence from HSI UK and a number of other charities, as well as concerned individuals, of strong public support for extending existing fur trade bans to cover all species, the Committee recommended that the Government holds a public consultation to consider whether to ban fur.
June 2018: At the Westminster Hall debate (which resulted from e-petition 200888), 32 MPs spoke passionately in support of a fur import ban, many noting the significant volume of correspondence from their constituents on this topic. Disappointingly, the government’s response, made by George Eustice, made no commitment for action towards a ban, instead noting that because of EU rules “it is unlikely that we would be able to advance [a ban] while we are in the EU.” He advocated the UK’s use of ‘soft powers’, working at international fora such as the World Organisation for Animal Health, “in order to get a wider uptake of the types of bans and restrictions that we have in place here in the UK.”
May 2018: In a response to a written question from Hugh Gaffney MP, asking about the potential merits of extending existing fur import bans to cover all species affected by the fur trade, Minister George Eustice said: “The Government shares the British public’s high regard for animal welfare and, after we leave the EU, the Government plans to retain the current regulations banning the import of cat and dog fur and products, and seal skins and products from commercial hunts.
Any further restrictions on importing fur and fur products after we leave the EU should be based on the protection of animal welfare. The Government is considering the case for further steps.”
April 2018: In an EFRA fur trade Inquiry evidence session, Lord Gardiner and Lord Henley, responding on behalf of Defra and BEIS respectively, both stated that they did not favour an outright fur trade ban, preferring instead to place confidence on the fur industry “concentrating on humane and sustainable farming and trapping.” (Lord Gardiner). This response fails to recognise that the fur industry has had decades to develop humane farming and trapping conditions, and has demonstrably failed, read more in our briefing paper. Lord Gardiner’s response on trade in fur products also contradicts an earlier statement he made in a Lords Debate on Animal Welfare Offences on 24th October, 2017, when answering a question about what Brexit might mean for animals in trade: “...we do not wish to see produce or animals coming into this country that are not looked after to the same standards that we would expect from our own farmers and producers.”
When asked, in the EFRA session, specifically about the potential to further restrict fur imports, Lord Henley stated: “I have no desire to close things down. I am not in the business of banning things. It is perfectly legitimate as long as we exclude those parts that we have taken the decision to consider illegitimate, such as farmed cats and farmed fur and so on. I am satisfied that it is legitimate and I do not do bans.” Lord Henley’s response does not take into account the fact that the vast majority of the British public consider trade in fur of all species – not just cats – illegitimate. A 2016 YouGov poll shows that while 9% of people believe that it should be acceptable to buy and sell cat fur in the UK, the same small percentages consider fur from coyotes, chinchillas and raccoon dogs acceptable.
January 2018: the government responded to e-petition 200888, which gained 109,551 signatures in support of a ban on the sale of fur in the UK. It says: “Regarding the fur industry, we are working at an international level to agree global animal welfare standards and phase out cruel and inhumane farming and trapping practices.” This response fails to acknowledge that the farming of wild animals for their fur is inherently inhumane – phasing out cruel practices means phasing out the industry.
POLICY COMMITMENTS:
Liberal Democrats, autumn conference 2023 (p53):
"As well as ensuring that high animal welfare standards are maintained in trade deals, Liberal Democrats would also ban the import and sale of meat which falls below UK animal welfare standards, and products such as fur and foie gras, neither of which can be legally produced in the UK."
Labour Party, 27 June 2023, stated by Alex Sobel MP:
"I am proud to confirm once again that a Labour Government would take the necessary action on the importation of fur into Britain. We are committed to this. ... A Labour Britain will be a compassionate, fur-free Britain."
Conservative Party, 27 June 2023, stated by Trudy Harrison MP:
“DEFRA published a formal call for evidence on the fur trade in Great Britain in 2021. … We will continue to build the evidence base on fur, which will inform potential future action on the fur trade. … I can confirm today that this process includes commissioning a report from our experts on the Animal Welfare Committee. … They will consider the issue of responsible sourcing in the fur industry, including the animal welfare standards and safeguards that apply to fur imported into this country.”
Conservative Government’s Action Plan for Animal Welfare, May 2021 (p10)
“... we will explore potential action in this area [fur imports]. ... we are committed to building a clear evidence base to inform decisions on banning the import or sale of foie gras and other products derived from low-welfare systems.”