SP Bill 39
Fur Farming (Prohibition) (Scotland) Bill
Scottish Liberal Democrats
# Fur Farming (Prohibition) (Scotland) Bill The commercial fur farming industry in Scotland had declined significantly over previous decades but remained legal, raising concerns among animal welfare advocates and the public. The bill was introduced to address ethical and animal welfare objections to fur farming by prohibiting the practice entirely within Scotland. This legislation reflected growing public concern about the conditions in which animals were kept and killed for fur production, alongside a broader shift in public attitudes toward animal welfare standards. The bill introduces a straightforward prohibition on keeping animals for fur production in Scotland, with measures to enforce this ban and support those affected by its implementation. It includes provisions for the licensing of existing fur farms during a transition period and establishes offences and penalties for breach of the prohibition. The bill also addresses related matters such as the keeping of animals in conditions similar to fur farming operations. This Executive bill represents a decisive regulatory intervention to align Scottish law with public values regarding animal welfare and to close what many regarded as an outdated and ethically problematic industry sector.
AI-generated summary
Parliamentary Progress
Introduced
5 October 2001
Stage 1
30 January 2002
Stage 2
6 March 2002
Stage 3
6 March 2002
Debate
Data sourced from parliament.scot