Former Fur Trade CEO Calls for Boris Johnson to Ban Fur Sales

Former British Fur Trade Association (BFTA) CEO Mike Moser wants Prime Minister Boris Johnson to ban all fur sales.

Moser spent over a decade in the industry, initially at the International Fur Federation and then BFTA. The 64-year-old left his job in January 2019 after realizing he did not want to defend fur any longer. He told The Mirror that the living conditions of animals in the “out of date industry” caused his resignation.

“It is anachronistic. It is an industry out of date. That is why it is having to defend itself more and more,” said Moser.

“The fur trade is under attack,” he continued. “Because the ordinary person in the street thinks it is no longer acceptable to cage animals for their entire lives and then kill them for a product that only has vanity value.”

According to a recent YouGov opinion poll commissioned by animal welfare charity Humane Society International/UK (HSI UK), 93 percent of the British public do not wear real animal fur. While 72 percent also support a complete ban on the sale of fur in the UK.

While fur farming was made illegal in the UK in 2000, it remains legal to purchase, trade, and import fur. Britain imports fur from a variety of species including fox, rabbit, mink, and chinchilla.

“It is morally inconsistent to ban the means of fur production in this country but to allow it to be produced elsewhere and then sold in the UK,” added Moser. 

Moser recently joined the Fur Free Britain Campaign spearheaded by HSI UK. He shared his feelings on the industry in a new video. Warning, the imagery is graphic.

Should Fur Be Banned?

Many brands are moving away from fur in response to changing public opinion and repeated exposes about the industry. California banned the sale of new fur last year, and all Dutch mink fur farms are due to close by 2021.

In July, HSI UK exposed the conditions experienced by animals on Asian fur farms including live skinning and beatings. Moser also highlighted the standard, cramped living conditions and frequent injuries animals experience during confinement. He also said that his relationship with his dog changed how he perceived the use of animals for fur.

“It is never too late to change,” he added. “If people want to call me a hypocrite, that’s fine. But when the facts and the science changes, we all should be ready to change too.”