In September 2023, the Seimas, the Lithuanian Parliament. adopted amendments prohibiting fur animal farms, including a ban on keeping, breeding, selling or otherwise transferring the animals solely for their fur.
The Seimas decided that existing fur animal farms will have to be closed by 1 January 2027. Until then, a transitional period is in effect and businesspeople may receive compensations.
A group of MPs later asked the Constitutional Court to examine whether the law violated constitutional requirements as regards fair compensation for property and economic freedom.
The Constitutional Court judged that the amendments prohibiting fur animal farms met constitutional requirements.
Fur animal farms are banned in 19 European countries, including neighbouring Latvia and Estonia, as well as in Austria, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and others.
The ban of fur animal farms in parliament was adopted amid active initiatives of environmental and public organisations such as Tušti narvai (Empty Cages).