Latvia’s Saeima has conceptually supported amendments submitted by deputies of several factions to the Animal Protection Law, providing for severely restricting fur farming from January 1, 2026.
Law amendments provide for banning animal husbandry if the purpose of keeping animals is collecting their fur pelts.
Saeima member Krista Baumane said during the debates that many were skeptical the legislative draft would not gain traction, adding: “Nothing will come of this”. However, the general attitude of society and politicians has changed, she added. She thanked Animal Freedom organization and the media for pulling the shady sides of fur farming to the light.
Fur farming is unethical, cruel and a disappearing form of business, said Baumane, adding that it was already banned in 18 European countries and several more were on the path towards banning it.
Saeima member Ramona Petravica said the very fact that animals were kept in cages was readily disgusting, as those animals had very little space to move about and they had to sort out natural needs in the same small space. The politician compared it to keeping people in cages smaller than 1 square meter.
Petravica stresses that most people support banning fur farming. She also said fur harvest was impossible without breach of animal rights. Additionally, the contribution fur farming brings to the national economy and the volume of paid taxes is minimal. On top of that, beneficiaries of those businesses reside in western European countries, she adds.
Saeima member Edgars Tavars said it was good that following the passing of the legislative draft this long discussion would be punctuated with “if not a period, then a proper comma”. With this issue the Saeima will demonstrate that fur farming for fashion alone is unacceptable, said the politician.
Parliamentarian Viesturs Liepkalns said even before becoming a member of the Saeima he thought about supporting animal rights activists’ promoted initiatives if he were a politician. The politician said the parliament could be largely unified in relation to at least a single issue.
MP Sandis Riekstins said he would support amendments, adding that members of Attistibai/Par! used debates to “film promotional videos” for themselves. The politician said that if AP considered fur farming unethical business, members of the party should use the same arguments for legislative drafts aimed ad restricting gambling businesses. Otherwise it would look as if the state of mink worry politicians more than people, says Riekstins.
Saeima member Maris Micerevskis said he agreed with Riekstins. He pointed attention towards the “argument over who supports the legislative draft more” during debates, sarcastically adding that he supported it “more than all the people who have debated so far”.
MP Rihards Kols mentioned that the legislative draft might be expanded with a proposal to ban imports of fur products to Latvia.
Chairman of Latvian Farmers Union Armands Krauze mentioned during debates that he would not support this “two-sided” proposal. He said the reason was because it did not even touch on the poor treatment of animals. He mentioned that he looked at amendments both emotionally and as a farmer. Krauze said the hens, “whose eggs you people eat”, were not allowed to walk about freely and sows were kept in very small pens and only performed the function of producing piglets.
“But when you eat pork chops everything is fine,” said the politician.
Latvian Green Party’s Chairman Edgars Tavars, who is also the co-chairman of the Union of Greens and Farmers, said animal husbandry for killing and getting a fancy accessory could not be compared to animal husbandry for the purpose of farming food, which was needed for human survival. No one is trying to prohibit the hunting of animals for their pelts, added Tavars.
MP Vjaceslavs Dombrovskis said he did not recall debates about the 2022 state budget or debates on energy price rise being as lively.
Dombrovskis allowed the 13th Saeima might go down in history with the fact that it did not hold debates regarding topics important to Latvian residents seriously. The politician believes members of the coalition passionately discuss two topics only – animal protection and foreign affairs debates, about Russia, Ukraine, international diplomacy and war. The Saeima member added, however, that all of these topics were important as well.
The legislative draft was prepared by members from nearly all factions of Saeima’s ruling coalition and opposition: Krista Baumane, Linda Medne, Dace Ruksane-Scipcinska, Atis Lejins, Ilmars Duritis, Regina Locmele, Edgars Tavars, Ramona Petravica, Valerijs Agesins, Evija Papule and Inguna Ribena.
The annotation to the legislative draft mentions that fur farming is an unethical, cruel and gradually disappearing form of business in our modern time. It is also added that it pollutes the environment and does not contribute much to the national economy.
The goal of these amendments is banning fur farming in Latvia in its entirely.
It is planned for amendments to come into force on January 1, 2026. At the same time, amendments to not prohibit the acquisition of fur pelts through hunting or commerce.
Authors of amendments note that sociological surveys prove most residents do not consider fur harvest a justifiable reason to breed and kill animals. Many countries have already banned fur farming in response to public outcry.
According to results of a survey performed in June 2021 by SKDS, 63% of Latvian residents do not support breeding animals for the express purpose of harvesting their fur. More than 40,000 people have signed an online petition, asking the Saeima to ban fur farming. More than 50 Latvian NGO’s support this initiative, politicians add. (BNN/Business World Magazine)
