Mink Farming Welfare Science and Legislative Bans

Mink farming has been banned in over a dozen countries on welfare grounds, with scientific evidence showing that the welfare needs of semi-aquatic mustelids cannot be met in commercial farming systems.

Key Facts

Mink farming is now banned in the UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, and several other European countries
Denmark - formerly the world's largest mink producer - implemented a temporary cull of 17 million mink during COVID-19 and later announced a ban
Scientific review consistently shows mink in commercial cages exhibit high rates of stereotypic behaviour
Mink are semi-aquatic with strong drives to swim, hunt, and range that cannot be satisfied in small wire cages
Over 30 countries retain mink farming, with Poland and China among the largest remaining producers

Welfare Considerations

The welfare science underpinning mink farming bans is robust. Studies across multiple countries consistently document high prevalence of stereotypic behaviour - particularly repetitive swimming motions and head-weaving - as indicators of thwarted natural behaviour. Mink are solitary territorial hunters that in the wild range over several kilometres; in cages of around 0.25 square metres they cannot express fundamental species-typical behaviours. Water access for swimming is rarely provided. The scientific consensus is that no economically viable mink farming system can meet the welfare needs of this species, leading welfare scientists to support complete bans.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for remaining mink farming bans, particularly in Poland and China
Never purchase mink fur products
Advocate for an EU-wide and global ban on mink farming
Learn about the welfare science that has driven mink farming bans
Support fashion and textile industry transitions away from mink and other fur materials