Denmark culled all its 15 million mink last year but the process was hit by scandal AFP/Mads NissenCOPENHAGEN: Denmark has said it could pay out more than 19 billion Danish kroner to its mink farmers after it closed down the industry over coronavirus fears.
Denmark was the world's largest exporter of mink fur but culled all 15 million of its mink population last year after some were found to be carrying a mutated virus variant, and later banned mink breeding until 1 January 2022.The support scheme announced late on Monday includes reimbursements to the country's roughly 1,000 mink farmers for the cull, as well as support for them to change their businesses.
Mink breeders and related businesses now have"a good opportunity to move on", said agriculture minister Rasmus Prehn after a cross-party deal was sealed.In November last year, Denmark said the"Cluster 5" mutation carried by mink had been wiped out, and they were the only animal confirmed to be able to contract it and pass it to humans.