http://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/animal-suffering-and-the-marketing-tactics-behind-the-european-fur-trade-revealed-in-new-report/
The Nordic countries, in particular, have been branding their fur industry as being ethical in terms of animal welfare. Especially the Scandinavian company Saga Furs is using strategies as “ethical branding”. Yet the new report about the Nordic fur trade reveals how conditions for the animals on Nordic fur farms are not significantly different from the conditions on fur farms in other parts of the world.
“Fur farming and its animal welfare problems are the same everywhere, in Finland as well as in Denmark and China. Active predators such as minks and foxes, the main species reared on fur farms, are kept in long rows of battery wire mesh cages where their behavioural needs cannot be met”, says Salla Tuomivaara, co-author and Director for the Finnish NGO Animalia.
The launch of the new critical fur report is timely, as the fur industry only two weeks ago had an exhibition in the European Parliament, promoting its animal welfare scheme. According to the report, Saga Furs claims to be proud that their fur comes from countries enforcing fur-animal welfare legislation, “from closely monitored farms in the EU or Norway”.
“These animal welfare schemes are used as marketing instruments to create an impression of high animal welfare standards, when in reality Nordic fur farming is criticised by animal welfare experts even within its own countries”, says co-author and veterinarian Siri Martinsen, Director for the Norwegian NGO NOAH.
One of the conclusions of the report is that the company Saga Furs is to be regarded as a marketing campaign combating increasing ethical awareness in a Europe that is increasingly concerned about animal welfare.
report at
http://www.furfreealliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Pels_final_print_mail.pdf 
