EU Fur breeding quality chain serves international fashion brands

Fur breeding is the only form of agriculture and animal husbandry which serves international fashion brands. Pirkko Rantanen-Kervinen, managing director of Finnish Fur Sales, underlined the importance of European fur breeding at a press meeting held in Brussels on November 12. Finnish Fur Sales is a major international auction house.

The value of fur breeding was EUR 1.5 billion in 2007, with most breeding sites concentrated in northern and central Europe. In addition to breeding, the lion’s share of professional fur auctioning, know-how, top design and fashion trend-setting originate from within the EU. The Greek city of Kastoria, by the ancient Silk Road, remains a prospering manufacturing centre for fur garments. EU farmed fur is extensively used by internationally acknowledged Italian leather and furniture industries, as well as by fashion makers throughout Europe, and the world.

Consumer awareness of the origin of the product is rapidly growing in all markets. “That’s why high-quality fur produced in the EU is of paramount importance for the competitiveness of the Chinese export-oriented fur and textile industries, too. Selling farmed fur for the needs of this increasing segment helps the EU to reduce its trade balance deficit towards China,” Rantanen-Kervinen pointed out.

Finnish Fur Sales is the exclusive seller of mink, fox and finnraccoon skins entitled to bear the Saga Furs® label, the most prestigious fur brand in the world. All Saga Furs® skins originate from the EU and Norway. Finnish Fur Sales and Saga Furs are partners in the OA™ (Origin Assured) programme launched by the International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF) in 2006. The programme gives assurance that furs included in the scheme originate from a country where legislation governing fur-animal welfare are in force.

“Turbulence in the world economy creates uncertainty for the fur market, and it is more difficult than usual to predict the coming season. Traceability and corporate social responsibility give the EU fur sector the competitive edge,” says Rantanen-Kervinen.

Finnish Fur Sales and the Finnish Fur Breeders´ Association jointly arranged a briefing on the fur sector with support from the Office of Finnish Agriculture and Cooperatives (MTK), the European Fur Breeders´ Association and the International Fur Trade Federation. The meeting was hosted by Kyösti Virrankoski, a Finnish MEP.