2025-11-07 19:38
publication
2025-11-07 19:38
On Friday, the Sejm adopted Senate amendments to the amendment banning fur farming. The regulations assume the introduction of a ban, the phasing out of operating farms by the end of 2033, and compensation for entrepreneurs who close their operations by 2031.
The amendments adopted by the Sejm were of an editorial and legislative nature. The amendment to the Animal Protection Act will now go to the president.
The amendment by MP Tracz was submitted to the Sejm in June 2024 by MPs from KO, Polski 2050 and Lewica. It assumes the introduction of an absolute ban on breeding and breeding fur animals, with the exception of rabbits, from the moment the Act enters into force – 14 days from its announcement. Entrepreneurs running farms will be obliged to phase out their operations by the end of 2033.
Breeders who cease their activity by 2031 will be entitled to a claim to the State Treasury for compensation for the property loss resulting from the closure of their activity. The amount of compensation will depend on the breeder's average annual income and the date of termination of the activity. The later the activity is terminated, the smaller the compensation.
The amount of compensation will depend on the breeder's average annual income in 2020-2024. Entrepreneurs who cease their operations by January 1, 2027 will be able to apply for compensation of 25%. average annual income of the breeder from 2020-2024. Those who decide to do so a year later will receive compensation of 20%. The amount will be reduced by 5 percentage points, up to 5%. compensation for those who do it by January 1, 2031. Later closure of the business will mean the inability to apply for compensation.
An entity or a farmer obliged to close a business in principle (with a limitation on the number of animals to match the permit obtained for previous breeding) will not be obliged to obtain another decision on environmental conditions for the activity they plan to operate in the current location.
Entrepreneurs will have the right to appeal against the decision on compensation to a common court within 30 days of receiving the decision. No fee will be charged to the applicant for a compensation claim.
In addition, employees of farms that have ceased operations will be entitled to severance pay in the amount of 12 months' remuneration, determined according to the rules applicable to calculating the cash equivalent for annual leave. The entrepreneur will be able to apply to the Social Insurance Institution for a refund of this amount.
If you are punished for an offense involving violation of the prohibition, the court will be able to impose a ban on owning any animals or a specific category of animals for a period of one to five years.
The first approach to introducing a ban on fur farming was the so-called proposed by PiS in 2020. high five for animals. An amendment to the Animal Protection Act was then proposed, including: prohibiting fur farming and limiting ritual slaughter. These solutions sparked protests from agricultural communities. Restrictions on ritual slaughter aroused the most controversy, because the adopted regulations prohibited slaughter for export.
The Senate introduced amendments to the amendment, but they were not put to a vote in the Sejm. Therefore, the legislative process of the amendment in parliament could not be completed before it could reach the president's desk and, if signed, enter into force. The case caused a political crisis in PiS. In September 2020, 15 party MPs were suspended after they voted against the “Fridays for Animals” project, breaking party discipline. Among them was the then Minister of Agriculture, Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski, who consequently left his position. In November 2020, all fifteen, including Ardanowski, had their rights as party members restored.
KO MP Małgorzata Tracz, former co-chair of the Green Party, twice submitted a proposal to ban fur farming. The first time will be in 2022, in the Sejm of the 9th term, and for the second time in this term.
According to the publication of the “Open Cages” Association, citing data from the Central Statistical Office, the fur industry in Poland is shrinking. While in 2015 there were 810 fur farms (mainly minks), in 2024 there were only 209 of them. The value of exports also decreased – in 2015 it was over 10 million skins, and in 2024 only about 1.8 million. In that year, fur exports also accounted for 0.014%. entire exports, although Poland is the second largest fur producer in the world. (PAP)
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