"
Faked videos
", "
staged
", "
surveys ordered by animalists
", the French fur industry refutes one by one the criticisms of animal defense associations.
For the four fur farms in France, specializing in breeding American mink, the ax fell on Tuesday: they will simply have to close their doors within five years.
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"
Our times have changed in their attitude to wild animals
", hammered the Minister for Ecological Transition, Barbara Pompili, on the occasion of the presentation of a series of measures on "the well-being of
wild animals.
captive ”.
This provision follows on from long consultations that began eighteen months ago.
In spring 2019, the ministry launched a series of consultations on the subject with NGOs, professional representatives, elected officials and experts.
Since the announcement, the French Federation of Fur Trades has been in turmoil.
“
It is an unprecedented ideological attack to ban legal and supervised activity.
There is no animal abuse on our farms,
”says Pierre-Philippe Frieh, spokesperson for the sector at
Le Figaro
.
For the Federation, the minister's decision is not based on any scientific or veterinary evidence.
In particular, she accuses militant associations of leading an “
unfounded
”
anti-fur campaign
for forty years.
For its part, the cabinet of Barbara Pompili recognizes that
"breeders today respect the regulations and do their best for their animals
", but "
raising wild animals in cages to produce fur is nonetheless no longer acceptable
" .
The sector wants to seize the constitutional council
Unsurprisingly, the industry does not intend to let it go.
The French Federation of Fur Trades will ask parliamentarians to seize the constitutional council against the decision of the ministry.
She also wants a public hearing in order to present its elements relating to animal welfare.
A ban on imports of foreign furs or their marketing in France is not being considered
Cabinet of the Ministry of Ecological Transition
Concretely, the sector highlights the creation of new standards in recent years allowing the control of the breeding of skins.
"
Breeders have strict rules concerning space for animals, nesting, social behavior of animals and veterinary rules when there is a case of mortality
", explains Pierre-Philippe Frieh.
Three of the four French farms are certified by the Federation.
The bad pupil being the breeding of visions located in Eure-et-Loir.
Mummified corpses, dying or dying mink babies, the One Voice association unveiled on August 31, new shocking images of this "
farm of horror
".
A year earlier, the association had already lodged a complaint against this breeding.
One Voice is now calling for the immediate closure by order of the Ministry of the Environment.
An envelope of 8 million euros to support their reconversion
In France, professionals in the sector are now worried about their future.
The fur industry currently represents 2,500 direct and indirect jobs.
According to the latest data available, it generated a turnover of 300 million euros in the 2018-2019 financial year.
More than a third of the turnover achieved, or nearly 110 million euros, came from exports.
The fur market has changed in recent years.
The many small neighborhood artisans have disappeared over time, giving way to four large farms whose production is mainly intended for large fashion houses.
Like the agricultural sector, the number of livestock has fallen in recent years and international competition has increased.
The ministry now gives players in the sector five years to retrain.
To support the sector, it notably provides for an initial envelope of 8 million euros.
But in the midst of the economic crisis, the industry believes that the ministry is disconnected from realities and that the decision will lead to "
cascading bankruptcies
" for the workshops.
As the only option, professionals are considering relocating their manufacturing workshop elsewhere in Europe.
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No ban on fur marketing in France
On the Old Continent, the skin market is well organized.
On leaving the farm, the raw hides pass through two auction houses located in Helsinki and Copenhagen.
This “
Rungis of raw fur skins
” only processes skins certified according to the standards set up by the industry at European level.
In recent years, however, fur does not seem to attract all the envy.
The subject in particular divides the clothing industry in the face of growing opposition from the general public.
Large luxury houses, such as Burberry, Chanel, Gucci, Versace, Maison Margiela or even Giorgio Armani have gradually withdrawn it from their collections.
Conversely, other luxury groups such as Kering and LVMH have chosen to certify fur, via a “Furmark” label, rather than banning it.
By 2025, LVMH hopes in particular that 100% of its furs will be certified compared to 43% in 2019. For their part, the low and mid-range French brands, which mainly sourced from China, have mostly withdrawn from the market. market.
“
Consumption patterns have evolved, with fur no longer appealing to young audiences as much
,” analyzes an expert.
France remains somewhat behind on the subject compared to its European neighbors.
Several countries such as Holland, Belgium, Austria or Germany had already banned the breeding of fur within their territory in recent years.
Across the Channel, it is now the ban on the sale of animal furs in British stores which is in the pipeline: the Minister of the Environment Zac Goldsmith wants to introduce the measure by the end of the year.
Great Britain was the first European country to have banned the breeding of fur animals twenty years ago.
In France, the shared initiative referendum (RIP) on animals also wants to ban the marketing of furs from 2025.
But this restriction is not in the pipes of the ministry.
“
A ban on imports of foreign furs or their marketing in France is not being considered,
” explains Barbara Pompili's office.