The EU has lifted sanctions on russian sable fur

This is reported in an article on Euractiv, according to ‘European Pravda’.

This change was included in Brussels’ latest package of sanctions against Moscow, agreed last week.

The European Commission justified the need for this exemption by pointing out that russia dominates the global trade in sable pelts, leaving European manufacturers with few alternative suppliers.

“It’s probably very difficult to source them from anywhere else,” said a senior EU official.

Italy and Greece, the two main buyers of russian sable pelts in the EU, insisted on the introduction of this exemption, a European diplomat told the portal.

The sable is a small carnivorous mammal native to the forests of North Asia; it is prized for its exceptionally soft fur and has long been coveted by European luxury fashion houses.

russian sable fur coats can sell for tens or even hundreds of thousands of euros.

According to ‘Soyuzpushnina’, russia’s only international fur auction house, Greek and Italian companies remain among the leading international buyers, alongside Chinese and russian firms.

For example, the Italian fur manufacturer Maurizio Braschi purchased the most expensive sable lot at auction in September 2022 on behalf of the company Braschi, and then again in May 2023 for a private client in Moscow, as evidenced by public documents from Soyuzpushnina.

At the same time, the import of ready-made fur garments into the EU and their export to russia remain prohibited under sanctions imposed in 2022, alongside other luxury goods such as diamonds and caviar.

In 2022, fur manufacturers in Greece strongly opposed these measures, warning that they would spell the end for the industry.

The renewal of the exemption agreed last week restores access to raw russian sable pelts, although the export of finished fur garments to russia remains prohibited.

The shift in stance on russian fur comes as Brussels decides what to do about its own fur farming industry.

At stake is a potential EU-wide ban on fur farming, following a successful citizens’ initiative calling for an end to the practice across the EU, as well as a ban on the import and sale of fur products.

Only a few EU countries, notably Spain, Greece, Hungary, Finland and Poland, still have fur farms in operation, although Poland has already passed legislation to phase out the industry over the coming years.

However, the European Commission has repeatedly postponed its decision, which was originally expected in March. A draft proposal indicated that the EU’s executive body was leaning towards strengthening animal welfare provisions rather than introducing a ban on production and import.

Source: European Pravda