EU has lifted sanctions on Russian fur

This change was included in Brussels' latest sanctions package against Moscow, agreed upon last week, Euractiv reports.

The European Commission justified this exemption by citing Russia's dominance of the global sable pelt trade, leaving European producers with few alternative suppliers.

"Apparently, they are very difficult to source elsewhere," said a senior EU official.

Italy and Greece, the two main buyers of Russian sable pelts in the EU, insisted on this exemption, a European diplomat told the portal.

The sable, a small predatory mammal native to the forests of Northern Asia, is prized for its exceptionally soft fur and has long been coveted by European luxury fashion houses.

Russian sable coats can sell for tens or even hundreds of thousands of euros.

According to Soyuzpushnina, Russia's only international fur auction house, Greek and Italian companies remain among the leading international buyers, along with Chinese and Russian companies.

Photo: sobolluxury.ru.