About the fur farm investigation of 2008

Facts About the Investigation of Norwegian fur farms done by Network for Animal Freedom in 2008.

Review
During 2008 the Norwegian animal rights activist network Nettverk for dyrs frihet (Network for Animal Freedom) inspected more than 100 fur farms throughout the whole of Norway, which make up a little more than 20% of Norway's fur farms. Therefore the findings from these farms can be seen as representative for the industry as a whole. The farms breed both minx and foxes. We have inspected random farms throughout the 17 counties where fur farms exist. The only counties without fur farms are Oslo and Finnmark. The investigation happened in the period from January to September 2008, with July as the most intensive period.

Tens of activists from Network for Animal Freedom volunteered to document the situation on the fur farms. The farms were photographed and filmed, and inspection reports were made from all the farms. This is the first time such an extensive investigation of fur farms has been carried out in Norway.

The investigations were done during daylight hours without violating any laws. We did not ask for permission to enter the farms, as that would most likely have ruined any chance of documenting the actual conditions. Beforehand, jurists were consulted to confirm the legality of the investigation. This has also been confirmed by the police. The public right of access is used when inspecting the farms.

Even though regulations demand it, most of the visited farms lack proper fencing. This makes documentation easy and unproblematic. In exceptional cases it has been necessary to enter fenced off farms to document especially atrocious conditions. Our inspection reports document violations of laws, wounded animals and conditions that demand critique. On each farm cages have been measured and controlled for mandatory furnishing and activity objects. Types of injuries and wounds found on animals were registered, as well as stereotypical behavior.

During the inspections we have used the regulations that will be implemented on January 1 2009 as well as the already existing minimum requirements of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. When the new regulations are implemented in 2009 this is the end of a ten year period in which the industry has had the opportunity to adjust to them. This is the first time that there is a Norwegian legislation regulating fur farming. In inspecting the farms, we found conditions so far from being in line with these regulations that there is no way they will be up to date by the time of implementation.

Network for Animal Freedom has found unlawful and unacceptable conditions on all farms inspected. Violations of laws have been reported to the police, and letters of concern has been sent to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, who is then obliged to inspect the farms. On several farms such severe irregularities and extreme conditions were discovered that only immediate closure of these farms can be the result of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s inspections.

Goals
The immediate goal of the investigation of the fur farms was to document the state of Norwegian fur farming in 2008. The fur industry is continuously trying to create an image of Norwegian fur farming as unproblematic. We wanted to reveal the reality of the farms through photography, film and inspection reports to be shown to the public.

In the long run the goal is to get a ban on fur farming in Norway, because fur farming is animal abuse, even when the regulations are followed.

Our demands
To politicians in Norway: Breeding animals for fur is animal abuse whether the regulations are followed or not, and must be banned. To the Norwegian Food Safety Authority: We demand that the Norwegian Food Safety Authority completes an inspection of all Norwegian fur farms. Unlawful conditions are so widespread that no possible degree of control will be adequate, but we expect that the Norwegian Food Safety Authority does its job. Many of the farms we have inspected should be shut down immediately because of serious violations of the animal welfare act.

Consequences of the investigation
Network for Animal Freedom will follow up on the reports to the police, the letters of concern to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority as well as the inspection reports they produce. We will hand over the information we have collected to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

Network for Animal Freedom will continue to keep the fur farms under scrutiny and appeal to anybody who live by or know of a fur farm to do the same. From January 1 2009 it is directly illegal to run a fur farm in violation of the new regulations. If a farm that violates the law is found, it should be reported to the police, or The Network For Animal Freedom can be contacted and we will help to file a report.