Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act 2000 Explained

Short Title:Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act 2000
Type:act
Parliament:Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long Title:An Act to prohibit the keeping of animals solely or primarily for slaughter for the value of their fur; to provide for the making of payments in respect of the related closure of certain businesses; and for connected purposes.
Year:2000
Citation:2000 c. 33
Territorial Extent:England and Wales
Royal Assent:23 November 2000
Related Legislation:Fur Farming (Prohibition) (Scotland) Act 2002
Status:Amended
Original Text:https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/33/enacted
Use New Uk-Leg:yes

The Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act 2000 (c. 33) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom to "prohibit the keeping of animals solely or primarily for slaughter for the value of their fur" in England and Wales. It received royal assent on 23 November 2000.

A public consultation in 1998 found that there was "overwhelming public support to end the practice."[1] Prior to the ban, there were 11 fur farms in the UK, producing up to 100,000 mink skins each year.[2]

The act only extends to England and Wales. Fur farming was later prohibited in Scotland by the Fur Farming (Prohibition) (Scotland) Act 2002. The last fur farm in Scotland closed in 1993, but rural development minister Ross Finnie nevertheless said the Scottish act was "very necessary", adding that "It would be somewhat perverse to have one part of the UK paying compensation to ban fur farming only to allow it to relocate and start up a fresh business in another part of the UK."[3]

Fur farming was also banned in Northern Ireland under The Fur Farming (Prohibition) (Northern Ireland) Order 2002.[4]

All three bans were simultaneously brought into force on 1 January 2003.[5] [6] [4]

Notes and References

  1. News: Fur farming ban pledge . 31 July 1998 . BBC News Online.
  2. News: Campaigners hail fur ban bill . 22 November 2000 . BBC News Online.
  3. News: Fur flying over 'unnecessary' ban . 30 January 2002 . BBC News Online.
  4. si . 2002 . 3151 . The Fur Farming (Prohibition) (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 . 17 December 2002 . 3 April 2024.
  5. si . 2001 . 3854 . Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act 2000 (Commencement) Order 2001 . 2 . 3 December 2001. 3 April 2024.
  6. ssi . 2002 . 519 . The Fur Farming (Prohibition) (Scotland) Act 2002 (Commencement) Order 2002.