VIER PFOTEN International

FOUR PAWS International welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the European Commissions Fur Free Europe Call for Evidence. In our submission, we outline why Option 2a comprehensive ban on fur farming and on the placing on the market of farmed fur products, including imports from non-EU countriesis the only viable and future-proof solution.

FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organization for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. We much welcome this Proposal for a Regulation and appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback to it. Please find attached our input, which we hope will prove useful in refining the Proposal, and in any further deliberations.

We welcome the opportunity to provide input on the proposed amendment to the annex I of regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 through this public consultation. As an organization committed to the protection of animal welfare, we acknowledge the importance of continuously improving stunning methods in light of evolving scientific evidence.

FOUR PAWS supports efforts to preserve local slaughter capacity where it contributes to shorter supply chains and better welfare for animals in the final stages. However, any reduction in the physical presence of Official Veterinarians (OVs) and any change in how post-mortem inspections are performed must not compromise animal welfare and public health.

FOUR PAWS welcomes the ECs efforts to support the viability of local slaughterhouses. Decentralised systems can reduce transport times, stress for animals, and contribute to lowering the spread of infectious diseases by avoiding highly concentrated production and long transport chains. Ensuring local capacity is therefore critical for both animal welfare and biosecurity resilience.