Project 1882 victory: The end for Swedish mink farms is here
The Swedish government promised back in autumn 2023 that mink farms would receive decommissioning aid to close their operations. Now it is clear that SEK 180 million will be paid to former mink farms. All farms are expected to be empty of animals by June. Project 1882 is pleased that this means the complete closure of an unethical industry but points out that a ban is also needed.
After the Swedish government announced in the autumn of 2023 that they will pay out decommissioning aid to mink farms, we have seen that more and more mink farms are closing in Sweden. The government also promised an inquiry into what a ban on fur farming could look like. Now, after a long wait, the decommissioning aid is in place, which means SEK 180 million for about 20 former mink farms. But the inquiry is still in absence.
– It is encouraging that things are moving in the right direction, and I look forward to the day when we can say with certainty that all cages are empty. Now the Swedish government also urgently needs to appoint the investigation and ensure that this unethical industry is banned once and for all, says Benny Andersson, CEO of Project 1882.
To be able to apply for the decommissioning aid, the last mink farms must be phased out before the summer. However, there are many indications that the farms are already empty and that the breeding of new mink puppies in wire cages has become history in Sweden.
Project 1882 has been fighting for over 50 years to phase out the fur industry in Sweden and was also a driving force behind the successful citizens' initiative Fur Free Europe, which collected over 1.5 million signatures to ban the fur industry across the EU. The persistent work will continue for 2025 to ensure that all of Sweden's mink farms are closed, and that the government keeps its promises on a ban. At the same time, the work for a comprehensive EU ban will continue.
– This is an incredibly important victory for animals. It would never have happened without Project 1882’s work, so I want to take this opportunity to thank all our donors who have stood on the side of fur animals along the way and made this historic change possible, Benny Andersson concludes.
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