An entire life behind bars
Even when they do not display these extreme characteristics, animals bred for their fur remain confined from birth until death. They will never know anything other than a bare, cramped wire-mesh cage, one of hundreds lined up in long sheds where daylight barely enters. Not a single square metre of soil, not a blade of grass, not a space where they can hide or rest in peace.
Running, digging, exploring, choosing where to rest, moving away from other animals: all of these basic needs, essential for these naturally wild animals, cannot be fulfilled. Deprived of everything their instincts drive them to do, many develop behavioural disorders — pacing endlessly in circles, mutilating themselves and sinking into a state of constant distress.
In July 2025, EFSA also issued a particularly critical scientific opinion on fur farming. Its conclusion is clear: under current farming systems, most animal welfare consequences cannot be prevented or sufficiently reduced through simple improvements.
In other words, changing a few rules or making cages slightly larger will not solve the fundamental problem. The problem is the system itself.
Broken promises
As early as 2017, similar footage triggered a wave of public outrage. In response to the scandal, the Finnish fur sector promised to take action and put an end to the selective breeding of excessively large animals. A maximum size was also supposed to be imposed on pelts placed on the market.
Nearly ten years later, the footage is there for all to see. It shows that these promises failed to prevent the suffering from continuing.
Worse still, the industry now appears to be moving in exactly the opposite direction. In 2026, Finnish auction house Saga Furs created a new category of pelts even larger than those permitted after the 2017 scandal.
Europe must make a decision
Thanks to the European Citizens’ Initiative Fur Free Europe, more than 1.5 million European citizens have called on the European Union to put an end to fur farming and to the marketing of fur products.
The European Commission must decide how it will respond to this demand. Its response was initially expected in March 2026 but was postponed until after the summer.
After the footage, the scientific studies and years of scandals, what is left to examine?
How many more foxes will have to be deformed, confined and killed before Europe decides that the limit has been reached?
