Several countries have banned mink farming, but transition support for existing animals and workers shapes the welfare outcomes of these policy decisions.
The welfare implications of mink farming bans depend heavily on implementation. Where bans include long phase-out periods, millions of animals continue living in barren wire cages. Emergency culls during disease outbreaks raise serious welfare concerns about methods and speed. Mink that cannot be rehomed face euthanasia, while genuine sanctuary placements are extremely limited. The transition period is critical: governments and industry must minimise suffering during wind-down rather than treating it as purely an economic matter.