Denmark will stop all mink farming by 2029. The government chose to drop its legal exemption request to prioritize animal welfare.
Denmark will end all mink farming by August 2029. The government recently decided to drop its request for an exemption from a European Union ban.
Next, the country will implement a formal ban starting on August 7 of next year. Breeders will then have two years to phase out their operations completely.
Meanwhile, Nature Minister Christian Rabjerg Madsen supports this new direction. He stated that the government prioritizes animal welfare over long-standing business traditions.
Also, the minister argued that industries must benefit society and the economy. He believes that current mink farming practices no longer serve these goals effectively.
However, the government previously tried to keep the industry alive. Officials initially asked for an exemption when the EU labeled the animal an invasive species in 2025.
After that, the current coalition government changed its mind. They officially decided not to pursue the legal exemption last Friday.
Furthermore, many politicians celebrated this choice. Social Democrat MP Brigitte Vind called the move a victory for animal rights and ethics.
Still, the industry has faced many challenges in recent years. A major crisis occurred during the pandemic when officials ordered a mass cull of 15 million mink.
As a result, the population of these animals dropped significantly. Today, only about 15,000 mink remain in the entire country.
Finally, the government must address the costs of closing the seven remaining farms. Estimates suggest the process could cost millions of Danish krone.