Key facts
- Mink farming will end in Denmark by August 2029.
- The government reversed a decision to seek an exemption from an EU-wide ban.
- Animal welfare was cited as the primary reason for the ban.
- Approximately 15,000 mink remain in Denmark.
Mink farming will cease in Denmark by August 2029, following a government decision to abandon plans for an exemption to an upcoming EU-wide ban. The Danish government, elected in June 2026, reversed a previous stance and will not apply for special treatment for its mink industry, citing animal welfare concerns. The ban is set to take effect on August 7, 2028, with a two-year transition period for phasing out the practice. Denmark was once a leading global producer of mink fur, but the industry has faced decline due to international bans, a shrinking fur trade, and a significant Covid-19 outbreak among its mink population during the pandemic, which led to the culling of approximately 15 million animals. Around 15,000 mink remain in the country, and the cost of closing the seven remaining farms is yet to be determined but is estimated to be around 14 million Danish krone.