Norwegian government platform includes the proposed planned phaseout of fur farming

The new Norwegian three-party government has put forward an 84-page government platform, that, among other things, includes a proposal for a controlled phaseout of fur farming in Norway.

The phaseout will take place up until 2025, with compensation for farmers that must stop production or change to something else.

As recently as 2017, the findings of a thorough scientific analysis led to large support for fur farming in the Storting, the Norwegian Parliament. They voted for the continued sustainable development of fur farming in Norway and introduced completely updated legislation to govern the trade.

- We don’t know the precise details yet, but we know that Siv Jensen from the Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) and Prime Minister Erna Solberg from the Conservative Party (Høyre) have both expressed regret that it was necessary to give in to the Liberal Party (Venstre) in this area to reach a consensus to form a government, said Tage Pedersen, Chairman for the Danish Fur Breeders’ Association.

- It’s especially unfortunate given that Norwegian fur farmers just received a clear backing in the Storting to continue sustainable development. This is really a surprising U-turn we are hearing from Norway, and now we must wait and see what will actually happen when the government introduces the proposal for a discussion in parliament, he added.