Farm Animals

Farmed Mink Phase-out Progress and Welfare

Mink farming bans are progressing across Europe, with welfare and public health concerns both driving legislative action.

Key Facts

Mink farming has been banned or is being phased out in over 20 countries
The Netherlands completed phase-out in 2021 after COVID-19 spread through mink farms
SARS-CoV-2 infected mink showed respiratory disease and mortality
Remaining mink farming is concentrated in Denmark, Finland, and Poland
Welfare organisations have campaigned for mink farming bans for decades

Welfare Considerations

Mink in wire cages suffer from inability to express their semi-aquatic behavioural repertoire. The COVID-19 outbreaks on mink farms added zoonotic disease risk to the welfare case for phase-out. As farming bans expand, ensuring transitional support for affected workers is important for achieving humane, sustainable outcomes.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for mink farming bans in remaining producing countries
Avoid purchasing real fur products
Advocate for import bans on mink fur from countries where farming continues