Ethical Sourcing Ranch Fur
We are committed to the certification of our fur products to provide continuous support for the farmers who produce the fur, and also for brands and consumers who choose ethically and responsibly sourced fur.
NAFA’s Ethical Sourcing program was developed to give our customers the confidence that NAFA Certified™ furs are sourced from responsibly managed and sustainable populations of ranched and wild fur. We believe that quality products stem from the source. NAFA receives fur from family-run, professionally managed fur farms in North America and Europe and communitybased, independent fur harvesters across North America. NAFA Certified™ furs are the result of a process that requires a significant amount of specialized skill, knowledge, and adherence to high ethical standards in the treatment of animals and environment. All ranched and wild fur deemed NAFA Certified™, is also FURMARK compliant as NAFA supports and recognizes the FURMARK program. By the year 2020, NAFA will offer both NAFA Certified™ Ranch and Wild furs, recognized by brands and consumers around the world.
Certification Assessment Programs Each major fur producing region, USA, Canada and Europe, abide by their own certification system that builds the foundation for NAFA Certified™ Ranch Fur. NAFA Certified™ Ranch Fur is based on the certification system guidelines from:
NAFA Certified™
Canadian Code of Practice for Farmed Mink
Welfur in Europe
Humane Care Merit Award Program USA
The Humane Care Merit Award Program USA is built upon more than 30 years of Farm Certification in the USA, beginning in 1985. Canada’s Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farmed Mink were first developed in 1989, and farmed mink from Europe under the more recent Fur Europe Welfur program beginning in 2009.
Regulation & Assessment Each certifying system applies national regulations to fur farming practices, formulated on strict animal welfare regulations, sustainability and transparency. All three assessment programs are science-based and verified by independent experts and veterinarians in the field.
Each farm is assessed and scored based on the criteria in their region. Assessment results for farms must be transparent. NAFA receives each farm’s certificate of compliance and logs the data to the associated fur pelt.
Traceability Supply Chain
Producers and harvesters consign pelts to NAFA
Each pelt receives a barcoded tag
Certification status is recorded in NAFA’s database
Pelts are sorted and graded into lots
Lots are sold at auction to the highest bidder
Designers and manufacturers transform pelts into ready-to-wear garments
Pelts are dressed, dyed by fur processors
Retailers present and sell garments to the consumers
Traceability Each pelt is fully traceable back to the farm it came from.
Traceability refers to the ability to track and document the movement of an item through stages of a supply chain, including the ability to verify the origin, history, manufacturing process and final application of that item. Each pelt that arrives at NAFA receives a bar-coded tag that can trace data such as species, country of origin, year produced and a code to identify the farm. Now in Phase II of NAFA’s Ethical Sourcing Program - Vision 2020, the barcoded tag will also identify the certification status of a each pelt.
Fur Farming Production Cycle
Mink
Fertilizer
Nothing is wasted Abattoir and Fish Wastes
Agriculture and Farm Lands
Sustainability The sustainable farming model for ranched fur has been passed down for generations and still exists today with family-run farms across North America and Europe.
Fur farming completes the agricultural production cycle. Nothing is wasted during the process. By-products from food processed for human consumption are used to formulate healthy, balanced diets for farmed mink. Fur farming is a modern and highly efficient process that has honed itself to be optimally sustainable. Fur farming today is a process that has minimal environmental impact. The waste products of other industries (e.g. eggs, cheese, fish and meat) are used to feed the animals, and on the other end of production, the waste products from the mink, including manure and animal fat are used in the manufacturing of biofuels, oils, pharmaceuticals and fertiliser.
Certification is an industry wide initiative, infiltrating each stage of production from farm to retail. In 2018, the International Fur Federation (IFF) launched FURMARK – an international “mark” that will allow consumers to identify responsible and sustainable fur. All ranched and wild fur deemed NAFA Certified™, is also FURMARK compliant as NAFA supports and recognizes the FURMARK program. NAFA continues to work closely with industry organizations to ensure that fur remains a responsible choice for the future. All national certification protocols are made available to the public and can be found at www.furmark.com
North American Welfare Mink & Fox Certification Programs in America and Canada WelFur European Certification Program for Fox, Mink and Finnraccoon
Wild Fur Programs Covering American and Canadian Wild Fur
The FURMARK Program Saga Certification By Finnish Standards
Dressers & Dyers Certificate covering dressers and dyers of fur across the globe
Sable
Swakara
www.nafa.ca