European and Belgian associations of fur animal raisers initiated a recourse Thursday at the Constitutional Court. The recourse, presented together with the promoter of a project for raising mink in Virton, opposes the Walloon decree of 2015 prohibiting the confinement of animals for the exclusive or main purpose of producing fur.
“Fur Europe” (the European association of the sector established in Brussels) and “Nationale Vereniging van Edelpelsdierenfokkers” (the Belgian association, established in Flanders) sought to annul the decree of Walloon Minister Carlo Di Antonio.
However, animal defence associations GAIA and Animal Rights stood up against them, as well as the Walloon government directly concerned, and also the Flemish government, thus revealing its interest in the subject, since all Belgian breeding of this type occurs in Flanders.
The pro-fur associations denounced in particular the ban of the Walloon decree restricting the use of the property right on these animals and the restriction to import or export, which are activities guaranteed under European legislation.
Notwithstanding, for the Court, “the prohibition in principle may be considered necessary for guaranteeing effective protection of the wellbeing of animals and for eliminating all risks of physical or psychological ill-treatment”.
The higher court therefore denied the petition.
(Source: Belga)
