The ban on fur farming should not be controversial; Generous compensation for breeders is prepared – said MP Dorota Olko (Left Wing). We do not want compensation, we want to work honestly – said Szczepan Wójcik, a fur breeder.
The bill, co-authored by MP Małgorzata Tracz (KO), assumes the introduction of a ban on fur farming and the liquidation of existing farms, offering their owners financial compensation. The solutions contained in the project were presented on Monday at the first meeting of the Parliamentary Group for the ban on fur farming.
Compensation for the liquidation of the farm
Left MP Dorota Olko, a member of this team, said that she hoped that the ban could be processed during this term of the Sejm. -Two thirds of Poles are in favor of this ban, and 90 percent Polish fur is exported. Generous compensation is being prepared to help breeders who would have to close down to re-industry. This is a project that should not raise controversy, it is high time to introduce it in Poland, Olko said.
The coalition’s narrow sector is not intimidating
She emphasized that the fur farming team only deals with the issue of fur animals, and – as she assured – no one is currently calling for a ban on fur farming at all.
Olko was asked whether fur animals could cause a conflict in the ruling coalition. -I hope that the coalition will not be scared of a small group, just like Jarosław Kaczyński was scared and withdrew from the “Five for Animals”. This is a strong lobby, but I hope it will not intimidate MPs, because (…) we are talking about a really narrow industry that almost no one in Poland uses – she replied.
Destroying legitimate business
Also on Monday, the Parliamentary Group for animal protection, the rights of animal owners and the development of Polish agriculture held a meeting in the Sejm. During the meeting, issues related to increasing the competitiveness of Polish agriculture were discussed, with particular emphasis on the development of the fur breeding sector and related agricultural sectors.
– There cannot be consent for a group of MPs, who have their own specific worldview, together with anti-breeding organizations to try to destroy the fur industry in Poland – said Szczepan Wójcik, president of the Institute of Agricultural Economy, a fur breeder.
Cows and pigs in the queue?
He emphasized that Poland is a leader in this industry in the world. -Poland is developing and it cannot be that anyone forbids anyone from conducting legal activities. Someone else will come after us. After fur animals will come cows and pigs. (…) Breeders and farmers will not agree to lose their jobs at someone’s request. We are completely against such a solution, he emphasized. -We do not want compensation, we want to work honestly – he added.
He noted that 90 percent breeding farms in Poland are in Polish hands. He admitted that there are large Danish and Dutch breeders in the country, but – as he pointed out – we are in the European Union and there is foreign capital in every industry. (PAP)
