Mink farming for fur has been banned or phased out in many European countries. Understanding the welfare case and policy trajectory supports effective advocacy.
Farmed mink experience severe welfare deprivation in wire battery cages that prevent natural behaviours including swimming, denning, hunting and territory maintenance. Stereotypic behaviours including pacing and fur-chewing are widespread in mink farms, indicating chronic stress. The science is clear: mink cannot be adequately housed in commercial fur farming conditions without significant welfare compromise. Bans implemented to date have demonstrated that the fur industry can wind down without catastrophic economic disruption, and consumer demand for alternatives has grown.