In brief
Denmark has announced a complete ban on mink farming, effective 7 August 2029, following a decision to abandon an exemption to the EU‑wide ban on the industry. The move brings the country’s fur industry to an end after a 2020 cull of 15 million animals amid a pandemic‑related virus outbreak. The government cites animal welfare, economic viability and societal acceptance as key reasons for the decision. With only seven farms remaining, the transition will span two years and may cost upwards of 14 million Danish krone.
Mink farming will end in Denmark by August 2029 after the government dropped plans to seek an exemption to the EU‑wide ban on the practice.
The country was once the world’s largest producer of mink fur, but the industry has declined in the face of global bans on fur farming, falling demand, and a 2020 outbreak of a mutated Covid‑19 strain that led to a mass cull of 15 million animals. The ban takes effect on 7 August next year, followed by a two‑year transition period to phase out the practice.
Denmark’s Nature Minister Christian Rabjerg Madsen said the government had chosen animal welfare, adding that “a business should not continue just because it has existed for a long time. It should also make sense for society, for the economy and for the animals.”
The government had initially sought an exemption when the EU added the mammal to its list of invasive species in 2025, but the June 2026 coalition government reversed that decision. Social Democrat MP Brigitte Vind called the move “a good day for animal welfare.”
Only seven farms remain, and there are currently about 15,000 mink left in Denmark. No final costs have been decided for closing the farms, but an estimate of 14 million Danish krone (~£1.56 million) has been floated.
The fur industry, once a staple for Danish exports to China and Hong Kong, has seen its production fall behind that of Poland and China. Despite the controversy surrounding fur, the material has recently re‑entered the fashion spotlight, with some high‑profile celebrities and designers opting for vintage or faux fur pieces.
For more on Denmark’s recent experience with mink culling, read about the cull of millions of mink.
