Poland Votes to Ban Fur Farming by the Year 2033
Fur farming has surfaced many times in debates across Europe, but Poland’s latest decision moves the conversation into new territory. Lawmakers approved a plan that sets a firm end date for the industry and explains how the transition will take place over the next several years. Farmers, export trends, political alliances, and public opinion all play a role in why this moment stands out from earlier attempts to regulate the sector, and together they show how much the landscape has shifted.
How The Decision Took Shape
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Lawmakers in the lower house approved a bill to phase out fur farming, with a deadline set for December 31, 2033. Support reached 339 votes in favor, with 78 opposed and others abstaining. Backing arrived from the governing coalition as well as many members of the main conservative opposition party, creating a rare overlap across political lines.
Next steps involve approval by the Senate and then a signature by the president. Previous comments from the current president show resistance to similar measures, so the upcoming review stages carry weight. Even so, the strong margin in the lower house suggests a veto could be overturned if support remains consistent.
What The Phase-Out Looks Like
Under the plan, breeders who exit the industry by early 2027 can apply for compensation worth up to 25 percent of their average income between 2020 and 2024. Payment levels drop each year until 2031, after which compensation is unavailable. Regardless of participation, all fur farms must close by 2033.
Poland currently records more than 200 fur farms, and industry activity has declined for several years. An earlier attempt to introduce a ban in 2020 collapsed after farmer protests and internal political tension. Wider backing and fewer internal disputes helped the most recent vote advance.
Economic Context Behind The Shift
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Poland remains among the world’s top exporters of fur skins, yet the trade represents a small slice of national commerce.
Export levels peaked in 2014 at an estimated 414 million dollars. In 2024, figures had fallen to about 55 million dollars, equating to around 0.014 percent of total national exports rather than the 0.2 percent recorded during the peak period.
Lawmakers highlighted these numbers to argue that the economic footprint has become minimal. Opponents countered that individual breeders still depend on the trade and that ending it would affect rural incomes. Political parties discussed the issue through that lens, especially those with ties to farming regions.
Public Sentiment And European Trends
Survey results earlier in 2025 from CBOS, Poland’s state research agency, showed around two-thirds of Polish residents supporting a fur farming ban. Even a majority of voters aligned with the conservative opposition agreed.
Across the European Union, more than twenty countries have already passed bans or are in the process of phasing them in. The European Commission has been reviewing the possibility of an EU-wide policy and expects to provide direction soon. Poland’s move adds weight to the broader European trend due to its scale within the sector.
As written, the proposed law outlines a defined timeline, compensation terms, and context showing a shrinking economic reliance on fur exports. Upcoming legislative steps will determine how quickly the phase-out becomes official and how breeders adjust to the transition period.