Netherlands ban on mink breeding, slaughtering upheld in top court case

On Friday the Supreme court upheld the legal ban on breeding and slaughtering mink for fur. According to the court, the law banning fur farms is not in breach of the human rights convention, NU.nl reports.

The ban on mink fur farming took effect in the Netherlands on January 15th, 2013. The law states that it is illegal to breed or kill an animal for its fur because it is not ethically defensible. For existing mink farms, the ban only takes effect from January 1st, 20124. The transition period is to give mink fur farmers tie to recoup their investments.

Mink farmers and the Dutch Federation of Noble Fur Holders went to court to get the ban scrapped. Among other things, they objected to the fact that they had to close their profitable business, and get no compensation for doing so.

The court initially ruled in favor of the mink farmers, but on appeal another court ruled in favor of the ban. The farmers then turned to the Supreme Court. They filed their appeal on the basis of the European Convention on human Rights' protection of property. But this appeal was rejected by the Supreme court. According to the court, "there is a reasonable balance between the protection of the fundemental rights of the mink farmers and the public interest served by the law."