Denmark to End All Mink Farming by August 2029 Under EU Ban

Denmark will close its remaining seven mink farms by August 7, 2029. The government decided not to ask the European Union for an exemption. This decision marks the final end of Danish mink production.

The Ministry for Nature and Animal Welfare announced the new plan. Minister Christian Rabjerg Madsen said industries must make sense for society and animals. The EU listed mink as an invasive species last summer. An EU ban on breeding begins on August 7, 2027. Existing farms receive a two-year transition period to shut down.

Denmark had previously planned to request an exemption to keep farms open. Carl Valentin from the Socialist People's Party welcomed the government change. He told Ritzau that keeping mink in small cages harms animal welfare.

Denmark culled about 15 million mink in 2020 due to coronavirus concerns. A temporary ban lasted until January 2023 before a few farms reopened. Demolition, compensation, and administration cost 29.1 billion Danish kroner by early 2026. Closing the final farms will require additional compensation according to CPH Post.