69 members voted for the ban, four voted against, but one abstained.
For amendments to the Animal Protection Law to enter into force, they should be supported by the Saeima in two more readings.
The aim of the amendments is to ban fur farming in Latvia. The amendments are expected to enter into force on January 1, 2026, and do not ban the procurement of fur by hunting or the marketing of fur, the bill states.
According to a sociological survey conducted by the public opinion study center SKDS in June 2021, 63% of Latvian residents do not support the breeding and killing of animals for fur production. In addition, more than 40,000 people have signed an online petition to the Saeima regarding the ban on the site “www.kazoki.lv”, and more than 50 Latvian non-governmental organizations are also encouraging the ban.
In June 2021, there were eight fur farms registered in Latvia.
Fur farming is prohibited in 16 European countries. After the transitional period, it will also be banned in neighboring Estonia.
