Document type: Answer Respons from the European Commission to Question E-002603/2025
Authors: question : Maria Ohisalo (Verts/ALE). Answer: Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission
Preview. Question: The Commission has added the American mink to the EU list of invasive alien species.[1]However, Finland wants to continue mink fur farming and is therefore going to apply for a derogation to do this. To obtain a derogation, it must be demonstrated that there are compelling reasons of public interest for mink fur farming. However, public interest does not come into play in this case because fur farming in Finland is not economically viable, nor is it important for the country's economy. Fur farming actually poses huge problems in terms of animal rights[2] and pandemic risk[3]. The vast majority of EU Member States have already banned fur farming either partially or completely. Significant fur farming activities now only take place in Finland, Poland, Greece and Lithuania. The European Citizens' Initiative on a fur-free Europe, which calls for an EU-wide ban on fur farming, has garnered over 1.5 million validated signatures and has been referred to the Commission for consideration. The Commission's response to the initiative is due by March 2026.[4]
1. Why is the Commission granting problematic derogations to a list of invasive alien species that has already been drawn up on the basis of scientific assessment?
2. Is the Commission planning to propose an EU-wide ban on fur farming?
[1] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-Adaptation of the animal to the environment/invasive-alien-species_en
[2] https://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/news/new-scientific-report-fur-farming-animal-welfare-needs-cannot-be-met
[3] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09007-w
[4] https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/2022/000002_en
Answer: Article 9 of the Invasive Alien Species (IAS) Regulation[1] provides for authorisations that may be granted by the Commission in exceptional cases, for reasons of compelling public interest, including those of a social or economic nature. If and when an authorisation request arrives from a Member State, the Commission will assess it based on the criteria laid out in the relevant provisions of Articles 8 and 9 of the IAS Regulation.
The Commission responded to the European Citizens' Initiative 'Fur Free Europe' in December 2023 with the adoption of a Communication outlining its legal and political conclusions[2], as well as the actions it plans to take in response. Any follow up action must be science based, proportionate and effective.
The European Food Safety Authority[3] scientific opinion on the welfare of fur animals, was published on 30 July 2025[4]. The Commission will assess the welfare, economic, social, and environmental consequences of different options, including the bans proposed by the 'Fur Free Europe' Initiative. After it has concluded its assessment, the Commission will publish a Communication announcing its conclusion in terms of the appropriate measure to take and the timeline for any follow-up action.
[1] Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species, OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 35.
[2] http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2023/1559/oj.
[3] https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en.
[4] https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9519.
