High five for animals
An opposition draft amendment to Poland’s Animal Protection Act has been submitted to Parliament. The proposal envisions banning the breeding of fur-bearing animals, with the exception of rabbits, and sets a transition period of fifteen years. After this period, an absolute ban on breeding fur-bearing animals will take effect, again with rabbits exempted.
The authors, representing the coalition groups PiS, Konfederacja and Kukiz’15, argue that the amendment would halt fur farming while allowing rabbits to continue as a nonessential exception. The plan includes a 15-year transition, extending the deadline to December 31, 2039, before the total ban applies to fur farming, excluding rabbits.
Starting next year, no new fur farms would be permitted. Existing operations could continue only as they are, with no expansion allowed. The intention is clear: to phase out fur production while preserving ownership flexibility on existing facilities to manage the shift.
Meanwhile, another group of MPs from KO, Poland 2050, and the Left submitted a separate draft amendment ten days ago. This proposal also targets the breeding and fur farming of animals, but proposes implementation starting in 2029. The parallel tracks reflect ongoing political interest and differing timelines for addressing animal protection concerns.
Attention to animal welfare in Poland has intensified since September 2020, when media outlets highlighted the fur industry. A notable report examined what it described as the brutal aspects of fur farming, which helped spark public debate and drew attention from some political figures. In the aftermath, Jaroslaw Kaczyński, then leader of the ruling party, spoke about a broad animal welfare agenda commonly referred to as the five for animals. This package included proposals to ban fur farming, curb animal use for entertainment and shows, and tighten rules around ritual slaughter.
Farmers and some industry representatives mobilized in response, arguing that the measures could threaten livelihoods and rural communities. The ensuing protests and lobbying efforts led to the withdrawal of the initial policy from parliamentary consideration by the government of Mateusz Morawiecki. The episode underscored the friction between animal welfare goals and agricultural interests in Poland.
As of the 2020 period, Poland hosted hundreds of fur farms, with a significant concentration in the Greater Poland region. The landscape of fur production, regional economic dependencies, and urban-rural sentiment all factor into the public debate surrounding any legislative changes to animal protection rules.
The evolving discourse around fur farming illustrates how proposed reforms intersect with broader questions about animal welfare, economic impact, and political will. The current draft amendments continue to test the balance between advancing ethical standards for animals and defending the practical realities faced by farmers, workers, and regional communities.
Overall, the amendments reflect a clear push toward reducing or ending fur farming over time, while preserving room for transitional adaptations. They also highlight the persistent tension in Polish policy between animal protection advocacy and the concerns of agricultural sectors that would be affected by a rapid shift in industry practices. The outcome of parliamentary discussion will determine whether any version of a ban becomes law and, if so, under what schedule and with which exemptions or safeguards for those involved in the fur trade.