NEW OFFICIAL FINDINGS — 29 OCTOBER 2026

ANSVSA’s report based on information received at the end of August 2026

Important: the approximately 80% figure combines two distinct outcomes — slaughter and intra-Community commercial transfer. ANSVSA did not provide the separate totals. These figures describe information received at the end of August, not a verified live count on 29 October.

Source: ANSVSA official reply to SAVE15000, concerning petition no. 6441/30.09.2026 (document received 29 October 2026). The original document is held by SAVE15000 and can be provided to journalists upon request. The name SAVE15000 is historical and does not represent the latest official animal count.

Core Proposition

SAVE15000 proposes voluntary, lawful transfers of animals from fur farms into responsible permanent homes where owners consent and all veterinary and welfare conditions are met.
This is a proposal, not an operating adoption network. The latest official survey found no holders expressing interest in entrusting chinchillas to NGOs. Its feasibility therefore depends on real owner participation, qualified local partners and appropriate oversight.

Core Finding — A Ban Without Protection for Animals Still Alive

Romania’s Law No. 286/2024 prohibits the commercial breeding, intentional capture and killing of chinchillas and mink for fur from 1 January 2027. The law does not establish a dedicated protection and transfer mechanism for animals still held in fur farms during the remaining transition.

The European Citizens’ Initiative Fur Free Europe obtained 1,502,319 verified statements of support. The 2022 HSI/Europe investigation reported severe welfare concerns in Romanian chinchilla farms, including confinement and disturbing killing practices.

On 5 August 2026, ANSVSA confirmed nationwide data collection that expressly asked whether fur-animal holders would consider entrusting animals to Romanian or international NGOs for adoption.

In the official reply received on 29 October 2026, ANSVSA reported data obtained by the end of August: 5 active holdings, 5,200 chinchillas, and no owners expressing interest in NGO adoption. For approximately 80% of the animals, holders chose either slaughter under applicable law or transfer by intra-Community commercial trade. ANSVSA did not disclose the respective numbers for these two outcomes.

ANSVSA states it will continue monitoring the five holdings and any change in owners’ decisions. It did not announce a functioning rescue, adoption or protected-transfer programme.

A separate legislative proposal, PL-x 120/2026 (formerly L570/2025), seeks to repeal the provision introducing the 2027 prohibition. The Romanian Government opposed this proposal, but the bill remains before the Chamber of Deputies. SAVE15000 does not support repealing or weakening the ban.

The question is no longer whether the authorities collected the data. They did. The question is what lawful measures, if any, can prevent avoidable killing before the prohibition takes effect — and whether the prohibition itself will be preserved.

Official supporting records: ANSVSA responses to petition 6441 (May, August and October 2026); Senate committee report; Romanian Government position; Chamber legislative file.

For NGOs and Authorities

This is a proposed direct-transfer model, not an existing adoption service or a shelter-based mass rescue programme. SAVE15000 is not claiming to operate a shelter, secure NGO partners, or arrange international transfers.
Any real implementation would require willing holders, qualified local organisations, veterinarians, legal documentation and welfare oversight. The latest ANSVSA survey reported no holders volunteering animals for NGO adoption.

📊 Public Contact and Response Record

Last updated: 29 October 2026

This section records the public authorities, political representatives,
animal-welfare organisations, companies, public figures and media formally
contacted or notified by the SAVE15000 Project, together with the response
status known at the date above.

Inclusion means that a documented communication was submitted or received.
It does not imply endorsement, cooperation, intervention or responsibility
for the SAVE15000 Project.

• European Commission — Europe Direct:
  replied under reference
  
  no. #7755651
  
  and confirmed that no EU-level mechanism exists to prevent the killing
  of fur animals during Romania’s transition period.
• European Commission — DG SANTE, Unit G3, Animal Welfare:
  
  formally replied
  
  that responsibility for the transition lies with the Romanian national
  authorities.
• European Commission — formal complaint reply
  
  Ares(2026)5011901
  
  stated that the Commission had identified no legal basis for intervention
  as long as Member States comply with existing EU rules. The reply referred
  to Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the
  time of killing. DG SANTE subsequently declined further correspondence on
  the matter.
• Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission:
  formally contacted through the President’s official contact channel and
  asked to review the contradiction between Article 13 TFEU, the recognition
  of animals as sentient beings, and the acceptance of continued commercial
  killing during an ethically motivated phase-out.
  No substantive response has been received.
• ANSVSA / NSVFSA, Romania:
  The initial formal reply (petition no. 6441) confirmed that commercial breeding and exploitation, including lawful killing, remain permitted until 31 December 2026 and that decisions during transition remain with the animal owners.

  In its 5 August 2026 follow-up, ANSVSA confirmed instructions to all regional structures, a questionnaire to chinchilla and mink holders, and questions about their willingness to entrust animals to Romanian or international NGOs for adoption. It also clarified that donation and international transfers can be lawful subject to applicable veterinary and other requirements.

  In its October 2026 formal reply to SAVE15000’s 30 September follow-up, ANSVSA provided the outcome of its end-of-August data collection: 5 active holdings with 5,200 chinchillas; approximately 80% of animals earmarked by holders for either slaughter or intra-Community commercial trade; zero owners expressing interest in adoption through national or international NGOs. The two outcomes making up the 80% were not broken down separately, and the status of the remaining animals was not specified.

  ANSVSA stated that it would continue monitoring the five holdings for possible changes in owner decisions. It referred to the pending PL-x 120/2026 legislative proposal, which would repeal the prohibition if enacted. The reply did not establish any non-lethal transfer programme or protective moratorium.

  Supporting documents: ANSVSA official correspondence, held by SAVE15000. The October letter is available for editorial verification upon request.

• Embassy of Romania in Japan:
  acknowledged receipt and stated that the SAVE15000 petition had been
  officially forwarded, in accordance with OG 27/2002, to ANSVSA and the
  Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests.
• Embassy of Romania in Japan — subsequent clarification request:
  asked to explain the discrepancy between its confirmation that the petition
  had been forwarded to the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry’s later
  statement that it had never received or registered the petition.
  No response to the clarification request has been received.
• Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests of Romania / MMEDIU:
  initially replied that it had neither received nor registered the
  SAVE15000 petition and considered the matter outside its field of competence.

  After the Prime Minister’s Office forwarded the SAVE15000 request through
  the Government’s official administrative route, the matter was registered
  by the Ministry under reference R 36176/03.08.2026 and a substantive
  ministerial response was issued.

  The response clarified institutional competences, indicating that
  animal-health, veterinary and animal-welfare implementation questions fall
  primarily within the competence of ANSVSA and other competent veterinary
  authorities, while legislative safeguards require action by bodies with
  legislative authority.

  The ministerial response did not establish a transition safeguard
  or adoption programme, but it confirmed the institutional routing and
  competence framework relevant to the SAVE15000 request.

• Nicușor Dan, President of Romania:
  formally contacted through the Presidency’s official contact form and asked
  to initiate urgent national coordination among the Government, ANSVSA,
  Parliament and other relevant authorities.
  The Presidency was informed that its substantive response, or the absence
  of a response, would be recorded publicly.
  Response pending.
• Prime Minister and Government of Romania:
  formally contacted through the Government’s official contact form.
  The request called for the designation of a responsible national coordinator,
  a verified inventory, pre-killing notification, a temporary waiting period,
  regulated transfer procedures and a slaughter-last safeguard.
  The Prime Minister’s Office subsequently forwarded the request to the
  Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests for examination and handling.
  No governmental commitment to a protective transition programme
  has been documented in the correspondence received by SAVE15000.
• Romanian Government / Prime Minister’s Control Body:
  requested to conduct an administrative review and provide guidance concerning
  the handling of the SAVE15000 petition and the absence of a substantive
  transition safeguard.
• Romanian Government petition route / DRP:
  forwarded the SAVE15000 administrative review request to ANSVSA and the
  Ministry of Environment petition contact channel, with SAVE15000 copied.
  The Ministry subsequently stated that it had not received or registered
  the petition. The later forwarding by the Prime Minister’s Office placed
  the matter before the Ministry through a separate official route.
• Romanian Parliament — Senate and Chamber of Deputies:
  formally petitioned to examine the legislative gap in Law No. 286/2024 and
  consider urgent corrective safeguards, including a verified inventory,
  pre-killing notification, a waiting period, regulated voluntary transfer
  and a slaughter-last mechanism.

  The Committee for Agriculture, Food Industry and Rural Development of the
  Senate of Romania replied to the petition registered under no.
  XXIII/846/21.07.2026. The Committee stated that it had reviewed the issues
  presented and noted that there are no transitional measures leading up to
  1 January 2027.

  The Committee referred to legislative project L570/2025 / PL-x 120/2026,
  currently before the Chamber of Deputies. SAVE15000 submitted a clarification
  stating that it does not support any repeal, postponement or weakening of
  the prohibition introduced by Law No. 286/2024.

  SAVE15000’s position is that the prohibition on commercial fur farming
  should be preserved, while a separate transition safeguard should be created
  for animals still alive before the prohibition takes effect.

  A further response to this clarification remains pending.

• Nicolae Ștefănuță, Vice-President of the European Parliament:
  formally contacted and asked to consider submitting a priority parliamentary
  question concerning Romania’s failure to establish an ethical transition
  framework.
  Response pending.
• Anja Hazekamp, Member of the European Parliament:
  formally contacted regarding a possible parliamentary question addressing
  the absence of transition safeguards for Romania’s remaining chinchillas.
  Response pending.
• Tilly Metz, Member of the European Parliament:
  formally contacted regarding the inconsistency between Fur Free Europe,
  Article 13 TFEU and the continued commercial killing of animals during the
  Romanian transition.
  Response pending.
• Manuela Ripa, Member of the European Parliament:
  formally contacted and asked to consider parliamentary intervention regarding
  the documented transition-design failure.
  Response pending.
• Niels Fuglsang, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the
  Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals:
  formally contacted regarding possible parliamentary and intergroup action.
  Response pending.
• Humane World for Animals / HSI Romania:
  responded that its logistical resources for directly implementing an adoption
  or purchase programme in Romania were limited. It stated that discussion might
  be possible if a coherent and realistic plan involving a local implementing
  organisation were available.

  A formal follow-up was submitted after the DG SANTE and ANSVSA replies were
  received.

  No commitment to coordinate or implement a non-lethal transition has been
  received.

• Eurogroup for Animals / Fur Free Europe:
  formally contacted regarding whether the continued commercial killing of
  chinchillas can be accepted as the normal conclusion of a phase-out
  promoted in the name of animal protection. This contact preceded the
  October 2026 ANSVSA update reporting 5,200 animals in the end-of-August survey.
  No substantive response has been received.
• PETA:
  contacted regarding the documented and time-limited risk to Romania’s
  remaining chinchillas. A senior public-facing representative was also
  contacted.
  No substantive response or intervention addressing SAVE15000 has been
  received.
• Billie Eilish management and related public contact routes:
  formally contacted because of Billie Eilish’s public opposition to fur and
  animal-welfare advocacy. A time-sensitive request was submitted through her
  current management company’s official contact route, asking for one public
  share or statement supporting an urgent non-lethal transition.
  No substantive response has been received.
• Prada Group:
  formally notified regarding the unresolved transition gap and the potential
  continued killing of Romania’s remaining chinchillas.
  Prada was the only contacted major fashion or luxury group to provide a
  response. Prada Client Service confirmed that the request had been forwarded
  to the appropriate internal department for further review. A substantive
  response from that department is currently pending.
• Other major fashion and luxury brands with publicly stated anti-fur or
  fur-free positions:
  several well-known brands were formally notified regarding the unresolved
  transition gap and whether opposition to fur should also include protection
  for animals remaining alive during the industry’s phase-out.
  No substantive response has been received.
• Romanian and international media:
  HotNews.ro, Digi24, Libertatea, G4Media, PRO TV, Reuters,
  Associated Press, Euronews, POLITICO Europe, Euractiv,
  EUobserver and The Brussels Times were contacted and supplied
  with information concerning the confirmed animal numbers,
  Romania’s legislative transition gap, the formal European
  Commission replies and the ANSVSA responses.
  No significant media coverage or substantive editorial response
  has resulted to date.
• White House:
  formally notified for international attention.
  No operational intervention has been identified.
• Public legal and policy analysis:
  published on Medium under the title
  
  “An Ethical Phase-Out Without an Ethical Transition”
  
  and subsequently shared through LinkedIn, X and Threads.

Transparency note:
Response status is reported factually according to the project’s
communication records. “No substantive response” means that no reply
addressing the requested action or policy issue had been received by
the stated update date.

⚠️ Latest European Commission Reply: No Immediate EU-Level Safeguard Identified

In a further formal reply from DG SANTE, Unit G3 – Animal Welfare, the European Commission stated that the EU currently has no mechanism to prevent the killing of fur animals during Romania’s transition period.

“The EU has no mechanism to prevent the killing of fur animals during the transition period.”

The Commission also stated that Member States establish their own conditions for implementing national bans on fur farming, and that the Commission has no legal basis to intervene as long as Member States comply with existing EU rules.

“There is therefore no violation of EU law, since no EU legislation exists on this matter.”

At the same time, the reply stated that any killing of animals must be performed in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing.

Romania has already moved toward ending fur farming on ethical grounds. If fur farming is being phased out because it is ethically unacceptable, the remaining chinchillas should not be treated merely as disposable production assets during the transition period.

The central issue is therefore not only whether killing can be performed under existing procedural rules, but whether avoidable killing should remain the default outcome when a practical non-lethal transition route may still be possible.

This is the implementation gap addressed by the SAVE 15000 Project: EU-level principles recognize animals as sentient beings, but no immediate EU-level operational safeguard has been identified to protect chinchillas currently at risk during Romania’s national transition away from fur farming.

The SAVE 15000 Project therefore calls for a practical national and local transition pathway: structured transfer from farms into responsible pet adoption, where feasible, instead of avoidable liquidation during the transition period.

Why Romania banned fur farming — and the new question raised by the survey

In 2022, HSI/Europe investigated 11 Romanian chinchilla fur farms and reported animals kept in severely restrictive cages, reports of killing by neck-breaking and a homemade gas chamber constructed from a pressure cooker. These were investigation findings and allegations reported by HSI/Europe, not a judicial finding about every farm. Read the investigation and view its source material.

The 2024 legislation provides a 1 January 2027 start date for the fur-farming prohibition. The October 2026 official survey response makes the unresolved question concrete: what happens to the animals still alive while the phase-out is underway?

The official response confirms no holder volunteered animals for NGO adoption in the August data. SAVE15000 asks for accurate disclosure, continued welfare oversight, preservation of the ban, and renewed consideration of non-lethal outcomes if owners’ decisions change.

Contact

For official information, factual corrections, press inquiries or proposals from qualified organisations (SAVE15000 does not itself arrange adoptions):