EFSA and the European Commission have agreed to extend the deadline of the scientific mandate concerning the welfare of animals kept for fur production, originally scheduled on 31 March, until 30 June 2025. The opinion will be published in the EFSA Journal about 28 working days after adoption.The EFSA opinion will inform policy decisions following the European Citizens Initiative Fur Free Europe.
The additional time will allow EFSA to refine the conclusions and ensure the accuracy and quality of the findings, also considering the substantial input gathered through our engagement activities — including a technical meeting with stakeholders (January 2024-joined by FVE), a call for evidence on four animal species (March-April 2024- input given by FVE) and a dedicated Working Group hearing (December 2024), which provided valuable insights on various topics, such as management practices, environmental enrichment and animal behaviour, all of which are being carefully considered and given the necessary attention in the ongoing scientific assessment.
FVE and its Animal Welfare Working Group, on which EASVO President Mark McCarthy holds a position, will continue to follow the future developments and engagement opportunities related to this mandate.
