The sale of fur in Magasin will end completely in April 2012 as the department store brings its policy into line with that of its owner, the British chain Debenhams.

The decision to end the sale of fur at the department store was welcomed by Thorbjørn Shiønning from animal rights organisation, Anima.

“It’s great that Magasin is taking responsibility and is stopping the sale of fur,” Shiønning told public broadcaster DR. “It fits with the greater picture of what we have been seeing . The list of business which are against fur has grown over the past 10 years.”

According to Jan Helleskov from Magasin, the decision – which was made purely to harmonise their policies with that of their owner – will not have a great effect on its turnover.

“We are a part of Debenham’s in London which has had an anti-fur policy for the past 15 years,” Helleskov told DR. “Fur only comprises a small part of our turnover anyway.”

But as Copenhagen Fashion Week gets underway, MagasinÂ’s ban is unlikely to change Dansih fashion houses’ attitudes towards fur.

Fur auctioner Kopenhagen Fur is a regular participant at Copenhagen Fashion Week and will be presenting its products at a show this week.

“Copenhagen Fashion Week should follow Oslo’s good example and stop the use of fur,” Shiønning said. “But seeing as the fashion week’s managing director Eva Kruse once worked for Kopenhagen Fur, it makes sense that they would have a healthy relationship.”

Fur is big business for Denmark. Kopenhagen Fur attracts up to 600 foreign buyers to each of the five auctions it holds each year,  and which generate about two billion kroner in revenue for the company.