Farm Animal Welfare

Farmed Mink Phase-Out Progress

The global movement to phase out mink farming has accelerated following COVID-19 outbreaks in mink farms, with multiple countries implementing bans on welfare and public health grounds.

Key Facts

Mink are semi-aquatic carnivores highly motivated to swim, which is impossible on fur farms
Over 15 European countries have banned or scheduled phase-outs of mink farming
COVID-19 outbreaks in mink farms accelerated phase-out decisions in several countries
Mink on farms are kept in wire cages that cannot meet their extensive behavioural needs
Welfare science consistently documents severe welfare compromise in captive mink

Welfare Considerations

Mink farming represents a case where welfare science evidence is sufficiently clear to justify a ban rather than improvement-based approaches. The inability of cage-based systems to meet mink's fundamental behavioural needs, combined with public health risks demonstrated by COVID outbreaks, makes phase-out an ethically justified response.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for mink farming bans in countries that still permit it
Avoid purchasing real fur products
Learn about the welfare evidence behind mink farming phase-out campaigns