Denmark to phase out mink farming by August 2029, ending special exemption

Denmark will end commercial mink breeding by August 2029, with the government refusing to seek the EU’s special dispensation that would have allowed the sector to continue. Christian Rabjerg Madsen emphasized that longevity alone does not justify an industry; it must serve societal, economic and animal-welfare interests. Carl Valentin of the SF party noted that the seven remaining farms offer negligible economic benefit and keep mink in very small cages, reinforcing the decision.

The move follows a temporary ban imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic and the EU’s 2027 prohibition of mink farming, which Denmark had previously opposed. Authorities will now implement a two-year wind-down period ending in August 2029, and compensation details are still being assessed.