In Denmark, the removal of mink leads to a political crisis / Article / LSM.lv

The scandal, the resignation of the minister and hundreds of tractor protests in Copenhagen. In Denmark, the political crisis was triggered by the government’s decision to force farmers to remove millions of mink after a new coronavirus mutation was transmitted from mink to humans. The government explained that this mutation could potentially make the vaccine ineffective. Mass graves were dug in Denmark, but it soon became clear that the government did not have the power to order fur farmers to remove all mink.

Hundreds of farmers and tractors arrived in Copenhagen over the weekend, both by ferry and by land, to protest against the decision to destroy all the mink in Denmark and the way the government has run the process. Local media estimated that this may have been the largest protest by farmers ever in Denmark.

Earlier this month, it ordered the removal of all 15-17 million animals raised on Danish farms. This is due to concerns about a new coronavirus mutationtransmitted from mink to human.

In Denmark, the world’s largest producer of mink fur, the mass extermination of animals began and mass graves were dug to bury large numbers of mink that were killed in a short time.

However, it soon became clear that the government did not have the legal authority to require breeders to completely remove all mink. There was confusion. The government urgently sent letters to farmers stating that this was only a recommendation, even though millions of mink had already been killed.

The government acknowledged the mistake and quickly closed the legal holes, while banning mink farming on farms until the end of next year and granting compensation to farmers. They say it’s a small consolation.

“They imposed it without proper legislation. It is unpleasant to see life’s work being ruined without legal justification. But obviously now it is the case that if you do not have laws that justify your actions, you will simply invent them, ”said Danish mink farmer Lars Eilersten.

Earlier, the Danish Minister of Agriculture, Mogens Jensen, had said that tens of thousands of mink could be left alive to reproduce on farms after the crisis. The growers rejected the proposal as unrealistic.

“We usually have about two million breeding mink. But they advise to keep 50 thousand. It would take eight to ten years to return to normal production. This is absurd, ”explained Madss Soerensen, a Danish mink farmer.

Following an avalanche of criticism last week, Jensen was forced to resign as agriculture minister.

Prime Minister Mete Fredriksen has appointed a new Minister of Agriculture: “We will now have a new Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. We are in various difficult negotiations about Brexit and, consequently, the future of Danish fisheries.

And when it comes to mink farming in Denmark, we are in a very sad situation, which we need to deal with as best we can after the mistakes of the government. “

In recent days, cases of mink infection with the new coronavirus have also been confirmed for the first time in France and Poland.

At the same time, it should be noted that animal welfare campaigns have changed public opinion over the years, and many fashion brands have stopped using fur. Britain has banned fur farming for a long time, as have Austria, Germany and Japan, and France and Poland are planning to do so.

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