Denmark Commits to Permanent Ban on Mink Fur Farming

Denmark, once the world's largest mink exporter, has dropped its bid for an EU exemption and will implement a permanent ban on fur farming, ending the industry after mass culls during the pandemic.

Denmark has confirmed a permanent ban on mink fur farming, ending an industry that once made the country the world’s largest exporter. The decision follows the government’s choice to drop a controversial bid for an EU exemption. Under the new schedule, the legislative ban takes effect on 7th August next year, with a two-year transition period set to end all remaining operations by August 2029. The move reverses earlier plans by the previous government, which had sought to shield breeders after the European Union classified mink as an invasive species in 2025. Following national elections in June, the incoming coalition government reviewed the policy and decided against pursuing a special breeding scheme. Danish Nature Minister Christian Rabjerg Madsen said a business should not continue simply because it has existed for a long time, adding that it must also make sense for society, the economy and the animals. Social Democrat MP Brigitte Vind called it a good day for animal welfare and confirmed that dropping the exemption application was absolutely the right decision. Animal protection groups have celebrated the breakthrough, with PETA Senior Vice President Mimi Bekhechi describing the outcome as another nail in the coffin of the fur trade. Denmark was previously the global leader in mink production, exporting heavily to Hong Kong and mainland China. However, the domestic sector collapsed during the coronavirus pandemic, when a mutated virus strain led to the culling of approximately 15 million animals. Though ministers later admitted the emergency cull lacked legal authority, the trade never recovered, leaving just seven farms and around 15,000 mink in the country today. Closing the surviving operations will require state compensation, with coalition representatives estimating the taxpayer cost at around 14 million Danish krone (approximately £1.56 million), though final expenditures may rise. The decision deals another blow to an industry already abandoned by major luxury fashion houses in favour of bio-based textiles.

Read source: Vegan Food & Living