COPENHAGEN, Denmark — The Danish government said Tuesday it wants to ban mink farming until the end of 2021, as it presented a law proposal that would allow for the culling of 15 million minks as announced last week.
The culling is meant to contain a mutated version of the new coronavirus that can be transmitted to people, though there is no evidence so far that it is more dangerous.
The government needs a new law as it does not have the right to order the killing of healthy animals.
The opposition criticized the government for starting the cull before the law was in place and before defining plans to compensate the breeders and their staff.
"I regret the course of events," Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told the 179-seat Parliament during a question-and-answer session Tuesday.
"Although things went fast, it goes without saying that it must be completely clear that a new legislation is required here," Frederiksen said.
Under the proposed law, mink farming will not be allowed until Dec. 31, 2021, though a limited number of mink can be held privately, as pets for example.
The ruling Social Democrats have 48 seats in Parliament and need support to reach the majority of 90 lawmakers.
