EFSA recommends cage-free fur farming for improved animal welfare
This opinion was requested by the European Commission as part of its response to a petition requesting the end of the fur industry. The petition was submitted in 2023 after gathering one and a half million signatures.
At the time, Mark Oaten, chief executive officer of the International Fur Federation, said he was open to "a scientific review of fur farms". He specified that an outright ban would cost thousands of jobs for an industry that represents 18 billion dollars worldwide.
The EFSA gathered studies on five species (mink, red fox and arctic fox, raccoon dog, chinchilla). This also included site visits, hearings and calls for contributions to identify the points that harm the welfare of these animals and the means to remedy them.
"For all five species, the most relevant points concern the size and layout of the cages. These restrict movement and prevent the animals from foraging. They can also lead to sensory under-stimulation or over-stimulation (for example, if there is no shelter allowing the animal to isolate itself if necessary)", the health authority said in the preamble.
Mink raised in groups can, for example, inflict injuries on each other. The EFSA recommends isolating them after a certain age and separating males and females beforehand. Red foxes and raccoon dogs would benefit from a change in cage flooring and more space to reduce paw problems. Chinchillas suffer from the impossibility of hiding when a human, a source of stress, is nearby. The authority recommends adding a shelter.
It adds that most of the points identified cannot be improved under the "current production system because the limited size of the cages prevents the addition" of equipment. Improvements related to food are possible, however, for example by giving chew bones to foxes or hay to chinchillas.
The authority highlights the lack of information on possible alternatives to cages since this system is widespread in fur animal production.
Around 20 European countries have already banned fur farming, including about 15 EU members. This article was translated to English using an AI tool.
FashionUnited uses AI language tools to speed up translating (news) articles and proofread the translations to improve the end result. This saves our human journalists time they can spend doing research and writing original articles. Articles translated with the help of AI are checked and edited by a human desk editor prior to going online. If you have questions or comments about this process email us at info@fashionunited.com
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Zoo asks people to donate their pets for food for its predators
A zoo in Denmark has shocked its Facebook followers by asking for any donations of small, healthy pets for their apex predators. The zoo says the initiative is to help 'mimic the natural food chain' A zoo in Denmark is asking for owners of small, healthy pets to donate their furry friends as food for its predators - and people are in favour of the idea. The Aalborg zoo said it is trying to" mimic the natural food chain" of the animals housed there "for the sake of both animal welfare and professional integrity" and offers assurances the pets will be"gently euthanized" by trained staff. The visitor attraction in northern Denmark explained in a Facebook post: "If you have a healthy animal that needs to be given away for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us." It comes after a group of children 'chased a sheep off a cliff' before turning on shocked passers-by. The zoo points to guinea pigs, rabbits and chickens as possible donations. After being euthanized, the animals will be used as fodder, the zoo said. "That way, nothing goes to waste - and we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition and well-being of our predators," the zoo said. Commenters were appalled by the call out. One man commented: "There is a deeply perverse and degrading mindset behind this sick mindset in, a terrible trend of indifference towards animals has spread in Denmark and this posts supports this backwards ideology. Imagine giving away your pet/animal as fodder, it hardly gets more disrespectful and nasty than that." However others seemed to agree with the waste-not want-not approach. One Facebook user said: "Good initiative rather than being thrown in the trash when they are not cute anymore, or the neighbour is tired of your hens suddenly getting roosters that are noisy and illegal within the city limits." Another added: "Wooow you guys are brave. It probably won't take many minutes for angry comments, but I think it's a good idea. I would love for my animal to come in handy. Unfortunately it hates transportation, so I won't offer it on my last trip. Can you use animals that HAVE been euthanized at a vet?" The online call for pet donations is accompanied by a picture of a wildcat baring its teeth with its mouth wide open and a link to the zoo's website, noting the facility also is interested in receiving horses. The zoo, which could not immediately be reached for additional details, does not list other pets or animals as possible donations. The full post read: "Chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs make up an important part of the diet of our predators - especially in the European locust, which needs whole prey, which is reminiscent of what it would naturally hunt in the wild. "In zoos we have a responsibility to imitate the natural food chain of the animals - in terms of both animal welfare and professional integrity . "If you have a healthy animal that has to leave here for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us. The animals are gently euthanized by trained staff and are afterwards used as fodder. That way, nothing goes to waste - and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition and well-being of our predators."
Wales Online
8 hours ago
- Wales Online
Welsh surname that could mean you're related to the Royal family and how to check
Welsh surname that could mean you're related to the Royal family and how to check MyHeritage has given a list of 35 surnames that could indicate a link to royal lineage, with names on the list that have long been associated with nobility Prince William, Prince of Wales and Princess of Wales, Catherine (Image: 2025 Getty Images) Many of us are curious about our ancestry, lineage and potential familial connections. And one heritage company has uncovered a list of surnames that could see individuals connected to the Royal family. MyHeritage is a site where people can map out their family tree, discover new relatives and delve into billions of historical records - gone are the days of laboriously trawling through heritage archives and census data. They're currently offering a 14-day free trial for anyone looking to dig deeper into their family background. The ancestry company has compiled a list of 35 surnames that could potentially reveal Royal connections, one of which has Welsh roots. The company suggests that certain surnames have traditionally been linked to nobility and could strongly suggest ties to Royal bloodlines, reports the Express.. While the Tudor name is most closely associated with monarchs such as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, the surname actually has Welsh roots. It derives from the Welsh name "Tudur" or "Tewdwr," and means "people's ruler" or "ruler of the people". But it's not the only surname with potential Royal heritage. If users bear one of the following 35 surnames, they might be in for an unexpected revelation regarding their kinship. MyHeritage trial FREE MyHeritage Learn about your heritage here Product Description MyHeritage have a 14-day trial now. The 35 surnames are:. 1. Windsor: The surname of the current British Royal family, adopted in 1917. 2. Tudor: A Welsh dynasty that gave us notable monarchs such as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. 3. Stuart: A Scottish house that held the throne in England and Scotland during the 16th and 17th centuries. 4. Plantagenet: This Royal house provided England with a line of monarchs from Henry II to Richard III. 5. Capet: The ruling dynasty in France from 987 to 1328. 6. Bourbon: A European Royal house that has ruled over France, Spain, and other territories. 7. Habsburg: A significant Royal house in Europe, renowned for ruling the Holy Roman Empire. 8. Hanover: The British Royal house that spanned from George I to Queen Victoria. 9. Valois: A cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty that governed France. 10. Lancaster: A branch of the Plantagenet dynasty, known for its involvement in the Wars of the Roses. 11. York: Another branch of the Plantagenet dynasty, also deeply involved in the Wars of the Roses. 12. Bruce: A Scottish Royal house, with Robert the Bruce being a notable king. 13. de Valois: A French Royal house that produced several kings. 14. de Medici: An influential Italian family that produced both royalty and popes. 15. Savoy: A Royal family that once ruled parts of Italy and France. 16. Orange-Nassau: The Dutch Royal family. 17. Oldenburg: A European Royal house that includes the current Danish Royal family. 18. Glucksburg: A branch of the House of Oldenburg, associated with Danish and Norwegian royalty. 19. Romanov: The final imperial dynasty to rule Russia. 20. Baskerville: A noble family name with historical ties to England. 21. Darcy: This surname is linked with medieval nobility and landowners in England and Ireland. 22. Neville: A significant English noble family with considerable influence during the medieval era. 23. Percy: An aristocratic English lineage renowned for their role in British history. 24. Astley: A noble surname associated with the English peerage. 25. Capell: A distinguished English family with historical connections to the aristocracy. 26. Howard: A notable aristocratic family in the UK, bearing the title of Dukes of Norfolk. 27. Seymour: The lineage of Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's third wife, connected to the Dukedom of Somerset. 28. Grey: Associated with Lady Jane Grey, who was queen of England for just nine days. 29. FitzAlan: A powerful medieval family, previously Earls of Arundel. 30. Courtenay: A noble family with ties to both English and French royalty. 31. Manners: The surname of the Dukes of Rutland, a high-ranking noble family. 32. Russell: Linked to the Dukes of Bedford, an influential aristocratic family. 33. Cavendish: The surname of the Dukes of Devonshire, a formidable British noble family. 34. Talbot: A noble family holding the Earldom of Shrewsbury. 35. Spencer: The family name of Princess Diana, linking it to the contemporary British Royal family. Whilst these family names don't guarantee that individuals will certainly be connected to the royals, they provide an excellent starting point for those with curiosity about their heritage. To discover more, people need only visit MyHeritage and start constructing their family tree using the site's functionality that enables users to include names, dates, photographs and narratives to share with other potential relatives, before searching through the historical documentation which contains census information, birth and death certificates and marriage records. The platform also provides DNA testing services. These will supply customers with details about their ethnic heritage and connect them with family members. Customers can dig deep to see if they are related to The Royal Family (Image: MyHeritage) If this platform isn't quite what family historians are after, there are other DNA sites to choose from - such as Ancestry, which offers DNA tests from £79 and organises and connects shoppers with their relatives and also gives insights about family origins. Another is 23andMe which offers DNA testing with an ancestry breakdown, personalised health insights and more for prices beginning at £89. MyHeritage has a high 4 out of 5 star rating on Trustpilot, however. One person said: "Immediate accurate statistics of my immediate family members." Another wrote: "Regular updates of discoveries, positive results. This site is not just about the money, it is about genuine results for the family history researcher." "My family history has expanded and the format is easily understood. Changes are quick and easy. Thank you," said another shopper. Not everyone agreed, however, as one user said: "I don't fully understand it. I can't find a user guide, difficult to navigate, Help Center does not always understand my problems. My previous version was much easier for me," said another. Article continues below However, another amateur sleuth described using the site as an 'enjoyable experience,' adding: "Finding related families and information relating to individuals has been a wonderful experience. My Heritage has made it even easier to trace ancestors and verify relations." The DNA tests and platform is available at the MyHeritage website.
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Cook 'easy' fried eggs in just minutes without a frying pan or oil
A woman has shared a simple hack to make perfect fried eggs without using a frying pan or oil - and it takes just five minutes to cook them when you use an air fryer Nothing beats a fried egg for breakfast on a buttery slice of toast or as part of a full English - but it appears there's a superior method to prepare them. Fried eggs are delightful but many people can be deterred from cooking them as they're conventionally prepared in a pan with oil, and nobody fancies spending their morning scrubbing away at a stubborn frying pan. Nevertheless, Annie, a chef and creator of the recipe website Upstate Ramblings has revealed there's a far simpler and healthier approach to delicious fried eggs as all you require is an air fryer. Annie explained: "Learn how to make fried eggs in the air fryer! This delicious breakfast is easy to make and very adaptable. It comes after a writer claimed ' I tried butter from Tesco, Aldi, Lidl and big brands - and the winner is not Lurpak '. "There is no need to preheat a pan or heat up the house. You just break some eggs and start the air fryer." It might seem straightforward, but preparing fried eggs in an air fryer isn't only practical but will produce a more uniformly cooked egg with a silkier texture as the circulating hot air will cook it consistently on all surfaces. It also demands significantly less oil so you'll have no oily mess to clean up afterwards, meaning you can create a fried egg without any hassle, reports the Express. How to make a fried egg in the air fryer To attempt this recipe, first break your eggs into a small heat-resistant bowl or ramekin. Spray with cooking oil or add one or two drops of oil to the dish. Season the egg with salt and pepper, then place in the air fryer at 190C for four minutes if you wish for a fried egg with a runny yolk. If you desire a firmer fried egg, prepare the egg at one-minute intervals until it reaches your preferred consistency. A medium-fried egg where the yolk remains runny will generally require about six minutes in the air fryer whilst a fried egg with a set yolk will need around eight minutes. Annie said: "The perfect time depends on how you like your eggs cooked. You can cook them for a shorter time and have a runny egg yolk or cook them longer for a firm egg yolk". Once prepared, slide a spatula or knife around the edges to release the egg from its vessel, and then your flawlessly cooked fried egg is ready to plate up. Annie ends, saying: "Serving your fried eggs with slices of toast to mop up the runny yolk is traditional. Add toppings for extra flavour, like shredded cheese, hot sauce, or fresh herbs. Or add a little Breakfast Sauce and put the fried egg on avocado toast".
