Foie Gras Bans by Country

Argentina was one of the earliest countries to ban foie gras production. In August 2003, Argentina outlawed the force-feeding of geese and ducks, deeming it an act of animal cruelty12. This ban makes it illegal to produce foie gras within Argentina’s borders, although (as with most countries) the import and sale of foie gras products are still permitted. Argentina is thus among at least 15 countries that have prohibited domestic foie gras production on animal welfare grounds3.

Australia forbids the domestic production of foie gras. The force-feeding of birds (gavage) is banned under Australian animal welfare laws, effectively making foie gras production illegal nationwide4. However, Australia has not extended this ban to imports – it remains legal to import and consume foie gras sourced from other countries5. In practice, Australia has never had a foie gras industry due to these strict cruelty-prevention standards.

Austria also prohibits foie gras production by banning the force-feeding of ducks and geese. In fact, six of Austria’s nine provinces have explicit laws against force-feeding, effectively outlawing foie gras farming across the country6. This means foie gras cannot be produced in Austria at all, though (as elsewhere in Europe) the law does not currently bar retailers from importing or selling foie gras made abroad7.

The Czech Republic has banned the practice of force-feeding birds for foie gras since the early 1990s. In 1993, shortly after its independence, the Czech Republic explicitly outlawed force-feeding (particularly of poultry in intensive farming), thereby ending any foie gras production8. This ban remains in effect, making the Czech Republic one of the countries where foie gras can be sold but not produced domestically9.

Denmark was among the pioneers in banning foie gras production. As early as June 1991, Denmark enacted a ban on force-feeding ducks and geese10. This made foie gras farming illegal in Denmark on cruelty grounds. While the country does allow foie gras imports, domestic production has been outlawed for decades11, reflecting Denmark’s strong animal welfare legislation.

Finland also disallows any domestic production of foie gras. In April 1996, Finland banned force-feeding birds “for fattening purposes,” effectively prohibiting foie gras farms12. Like other European nations with production bans, Finland still permits the import and sale of foie gras products, but no farm in Finland is allowed to produce it13.

Germany has a long-standing ban on foie gras production. In July 1972, Germany outlawed the force-feeding of geese and ducks for foie gras14, making it one of the first countries to do so. This prohibition remains in place, meaning foie gras cannot be produced in Germany. (Many German chefs and retailers have instead resorted to importing foie gras or using alternatives.) Notably, Germany is frequently cited as an example where foie gras production is illegal on animal cruelty grounds15.

India has implemented the world’s strictest anti-foie-gras policy. In 2014, India became the first country to ban not only production but also the import and sale of foie gras16. The Indian government issued a notification prohibiting foie gras imports, effectively eliminating any availability of the product in the country17. This comprehensive ban (covering production, import, and sale) is unique to India and is regarded as a major triumph for animal welfare advocates16.

Ireland has no foie gras production, as the practice of force-feeding is not permitted under its animal welfare laws. Although Ireland did not need a specific new law (since it has never produced foie gras commercially), the interpretation of general anti-cruelty regulations means force-feeding birds for foie gras would be considered illegal7. In effect, Ireland is counted among the countries that ban domestic foie gras production18. (Foie gras can still be imported and sold in Ireland, however.)

Israel banned the production of foie gras through a landmark court decision in the 2000s. In August 2003, Israel’s Supreme Court ordered a ban on the force-feeding of geese, ruling that it violated animal cruelty laws; this took full effect by March 200519. At the time, Israel had been one of the world’s largest foie gras producers, so the ban was especially significant2021. Imports: Even after production stopped, foie gras imports remained legal in Israel. (In 2013, a bill to also ban the sale/import of foie gras in Israel passed an initial reading, aiming to make Israel the first country to ban sales as well2122, but that legislation had not been fully enacted as of the mid-2010s.) Today, producing foie gras in Israel is illegal, though restaurants may still source it from abroad.

Italy has officially outlawed foie gras production on animal welfare grounds. In 2001, the Italian government issued a legislative decree to ban the force-feeding of birds; this ban took effect in 200423. Italian law explicitly denounced the force-feeding process as “torture” and “barbaric,” reflecting the ethical concerns over foie gras23. As a result, foie gras farming is not allowed anywhere in Italy (and Italy had no significant production even prior to the ban). Importation and sale of foie gras (produced elsewhere) remain legal in Italy, but many Italian consumers and businesses avoid it for ethical reasons.

Luxembourg was a pioneer in banning cruel feeding practices. As far back as 1965, Luxembourg’s laws prohibited animal force-feeding except for therapeutic reasons24. This effectively means foie gras production (which relies on force-feeding ducks/geese) has been illegal in Luxembourg for decades. In modern lists, Luxembourg is consistently noted among the countries that have abolished domestic foie gras production25. (Despite the ban on making it, foie gras products can still be imported into Luxembourg, though the market is limited.)

Malta does not allow any foie gras production. Although Malta’s small size meant it never had a foie gras industry, the country’s animal protection laws include a ban on force-feeding animals, which encompasses the production of foie gras25. Like other EU nations, Malta permits the import of foie gras from abroad, but there are no Maltese foie gras farms. The inclusion of Malta among foie gras–free countries underlines the broad consensus in Europe against force-feeding practices25.

The Netherlands prohibits the production of foie gras by forbidding force-feeding practices. Dutch law (and interpretation of EU regulations) does not allow ducks or geese to be force-fed, so foie gras farming is effectively banned in the Netherlands25. In practice, the Netherlands has not produced foie gras in recent times due to these welfare rules. However, as in other countries with “production-only” bans, Dutch consumers can legally buy or import foie gras from producing countries like France or Hungary26.

Norway has outlawed foie gras production for many years. In December 1974, Norway enacted a ban on force-feeding animals, which includes the ducks and geese used for foie gras14. This early prohibition made Norway one of the first countries to make gavage illegal. To this day, force-feeding birds is against the law in Norway27, meaning foie gras cannot be produced domestically (though imported foie gras may still be sold). Norway’s stance since the 1970s highlights its strong commitment to animal welfare.

Poland banned foie gras production in the late 1990s, despite previously being a significant producer. In August 1997, Poland introduced a prohibition on force-feeding geese and ducks “for the purposes of fatty liver degeneration,” effectively shutting down its foie gras farms28. (Notably, Poland had been the world’s fifth-largest foie gras producer before this ban29.) Since 1999, it has been illegal to produce foie gras in Poland30. As with other European countries, importing/selling foie gras from elsewhere is not banned by Polish law, but domestic production is no longer possible.

Sweden is among the countries that ban the production of foie gras. While Sweden never had a large foie gras industry, its animal welfare legislation does not allow force-feeding of animals, thereby prohibiting any foie gras farming25. This ban is by interpretation of general anti-cruelty laws (no specific “foie gras law” was needed). Sweden permits foie gras imports, but the product is relatively uncommon and has faced public opposition there due to ethical concerns.

Switzerland forbids the force-feeding of birds, which means foie gras production is not allowed domestically. Swiss authorities have long interpreted their animal protection laws to ban practices like gavage. (Switzerland reportedly banned force-feeding in the late 1970s, making it illegal to produce foie gras ever since.) Thus, no foie gras is produced in Switzerland25. However, similar to the UK and others, Switzerland still imports foie gras from other countries, as the law currently restricts production but not possession or sale.

Turkey has banned the production of foie gras by including a clause against force-feeding in its animal welfare legislation. Turkey’s Animal Protection Law prohibits the force-feeding of animals for any purpose other than the animal’s own health31. This provision means it is illegal to produce foie gras in Turkey (since the birds cannot be force-fed). Turkey is often cited alongside European nations that have abolished foie gras production on ethical grounds15. As is common, the ban is limited to production; foie gras can technically be imported into Turkey, but there is little market for it and the focus has been on stopping domestic cruelty.

The United Kingdom has a ban on domestic foie gras production, but continues to allow imports in most cases. The UK government clarified in 2000 that producing foie gras (through force-feeding) would violate the country’s farmed animal welfare regulations32. Consequently, no foie gras is made in the UK – it is illegal to force-feed ducks or geese for liver fattening. Imports: Despite production being banned, it remains legal to import and sell foie gras from other countries in the UK33. This means British shops and restaurants can (and some do) offer foie gras sourced from France, Hungary, or other producing nations. Animal welfare groups like the RSPCA and Animal Equality have campaigned for an import ban to close this loophole, noting that the UK’s current stance is inconsistent – the product of a practice deemed too cruel to perform in the UK is still permitted for consumption33. (As of 2025, proposals to ban foie gras imports to the UK have been discussed but not implemented34.) Sources: The above information is compiled from a variety of sources, including Wikipedia and animal welfare organizations. Each country’s entry cites specific references such as legal documents, news articles, or statements from groups like Sinergia Animal, Animal Equality, PETA, Vegan FTA, the Winnipeg Humane Society, and RSPCA Assured, which document the status of foie gras bans around the world4162733. 1 4 5 7 13 17 19 26 34 Foie gras controversy - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foie_gras_controversy 2 8 10 11 12 14 28 32 animalequality.org.uk https://animalequality.org.uk/app/uploads/2019/04/The-case-for-a-foie-gras-import-ban-3.2019.pdf 3 Foie Gras | Winnipeg Humane Society https://winnipeghumanesociety.ca/animal-issues/foie-gras/ 6 29 30 Controversia sobre la elaboración del foie gras - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversia_sobre_la_elaboraci%C3%B3n_del_foie_gras 9 18 What Is Foie Gras And Why Is It Banned In So Many Countries? https://www.foodie.com/1637675/why-is-foie-gras-banned/ 15 The fight to ban foie gras | Animal Equality https://animalequality.org/foie-gras-ban-progress/ 16 What is foie gras, why is it cruel, and where is it banned? https://www.sinergiaanimalinternational.org/single-post/what-is-foie-gras 20 21 22 Israel Set to Become First Country to Ban Foie Gras Sales! https://www.peta.org.uk/blog/israel-set-to-become-first-country-to-ban-foie-gras-sales/ 23 24 Last Chance for Animals - About Foie Gras https://www.lcanimal.org/index.php/campaigns/foie-gras/about-foie-gras 25 The Cruelty of Foie Gras Production | Vegan FTA https://veganfta.com/blog/2024/10/10/the-cruelty-of-foie-gras-production/ 27 Foie Gras: Cruelty to Ducks and Geese | PETA https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/factory-farming/ducks-geese/foie-gras/ 31 What is foie gras? How is it made and is it cruel? | Farm Forward https://www.farmforward.com/news/what-is-foie-gras/ 33 What to eat when you're away from home https://www.rspcaassured.org.uk/news-and-updates/posts/what-not-to-eat-on-holiday-this-year/