The measure prohibiting fur farming until 2026 passed its third – and final – reading in Estonia's parliament, the Riigikogu, making Estonia the first Baltic country to ban fur farms. 55 Members out of 101 voted in favour of the bill.

The Environment Committee has agreed that the draft Act for Animal Protection and Nature Conservation, which would prohibit fur farms in Estonia, will be put to a final vote on June 2nd.

On May 8th and 9th, the international animal rights conference organized by NGO Loomus, Estonian Vegan Society, and NGO Kuulikodu will be held for the sixth time, this time online.

Some years ago the biggest fur farm in Estonia (Balti Karusnahk AS) had about 160 000 animals — 30 000 foxes and 130 000 minks. Now there are no animals in this farm and the cages are empty.

Estonia took an important step towards banning fur farms yesterday, when the draft Act for the amendment of Animal Protection and Nature Conservation Act passed the first reading in the Riigikogu (Estonian parliament).

According to a survey commissioned by animal advocacy organisation Loomus, 83% of women and 66% of men are not in favour of fur farming. 73% of Estonians and 77% of people from other nationalities are against fur farming.

LOOMUS addressed the Estonian Government with a request to not support fur farms within the framework of the EU Structural Funds.

Part of the Global Hack initiative, Loomus launched a petition asking the United Nations to create an Exit Strategy from wildlife trade, wet markets with animals, and industrial animal farms - for a world free from pandemics caused by animal-borne diseases like COVID19.

As the prices of fur on the world market have been low in recent years, all Estonian fur farms have closed their doors, the only one being the Baltic Fur AS in Karjaküla, which is also struggling for survival.

On May 3, the 5th International Animal Rights Conference will be organized by the animal welfare organization Loomus at the Salme Cultural Center in Tallinn.

Estonian, Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian animal rights organizations have for many years worked to ban fur farms in their countries.

On 22 January, the Estonian parliament again rejected a proposal to close fur farms with a 5-year transition period.