Sweden will ban breeding of mink in 2021 to prevent the risk of mutations of the coronavirus spreading to humans, the government said at a press conference on Wednesday, 27 January 2021.

On October 23th 2020 the first case of coronavirus was found on a mink farm in Sweden and the virus subsequently spread to 12 other farms. 

At the end of 2020, the Netherlands proceeded to implement its previously scheduled closure of mink farms earlier than intended as a consequence of the spread of the coronavirus among the minks. Denmark introduced a temporary ban in 2021 for the same reason, in line with the decision Sweden now has taken. If today’s decision means a final stop for mink farms, Sweden will be one of the many countries that have closed the door to this outdated industry

Camilla Bergvall President of Djurens Rätt, said:

In practice, this means the end of mink breeding in Sweden, even if the ban is temporary. Djurens Rätt has been working against the cruelty in the mink industry for a long time and a large majority of Swedes wants to see the farms shut down. This is a good day for the mink.

The risk of spreading infection from mink farms is a result of the catastrophic animal welfare. Djurens Rätt has been fighting for decades for the mink farms to be phased out and for the suffering to end. This decision is most likely the end for the Swedish mink industry