Victory! The Netherlands Bans Mink Farms
After a legal battle that has been going on for years between the Dutch government and mink farmers, the Court of Appeals has finally dictated the prohibition of all mink farms.
This historic ruling in favor of the animals takes the side of the 6 million minks currently living in Dutch farms. The Netherlands is the fourth largest producer of mink in the world.
The Dutch animal protection organizations Bont voor Dieren (Fur For Animals) and Dierenbescherming, as well as the Fur Free Alliance and the Eurogroup for Animals have been working together for years to accomplish this goal.
In the final sentence of the appeal of the prohibition exposed by the mink farmers, the judge declared that “the public interest outweighs the economic interests of farmers.”
In 2012, the Dutch senator voted for a ban on mink farms based on ethical grounds. Farmers were given a 12-year transition to completely abandon their business. In 2014, the Dutch Court of Appeals, following the complaint by the furriers, suspended the sentence arguing that the compensation offered to them was insufficient. This final decision means that mink farms will be completely closed by 2024.
The Netherlands joins the United Kingdom, Austria, and several German federal states in the ban of such farms. This is an important step forward for the members of the European Union.
