Analysis: It took many years for Ireland to finally prohibt the farming of mink and other animals for the purposes of producing fur
In 1984, the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes Act was enacted. Section 4 of the Act placed a statutory obligation on the owner of the animals or the person in control of the animals kept in an intensive unit to make daily health and welfare inspections and to ensure that all equipment was free from defect. The Act granted powers of entry and inspection to persons appointed by the Minister, including the power to take away samples from the animals, food or liquid for further analysis. The 1984 Act was repealed in its entirety by the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.
In line with Ireland’s obligations under European Union (EU) law, the European Communities (Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes) Regulations 2000 were enacted to give effect to Council Directive 98/58/EC of July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes, which included mink. The directive lays down minimum standards for the protection of animals bred or kept for farming purposes.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Today with Claire Byrne in 2020, retired fur farmer Redmond O'Hanlon and Dr. Mark D'Alton from Veterinary Ireland discuss fur farming in Ireland
Under the regulations, 'animal' is defined to include fish, reptiles or amphibians bred or kept for the production of food, wool, skin or fur or for other farming purposes. The Regulations detail statutory duties in relation to the care of farmed animals in general, as well as species-specific requirements for certain farmed animals including calves, pigs and laying hens. The Annex to Directive 95/58 states: 'No animal shall be kept for farming purposes unless it can reasonably be expected, on the basis of its genotype or phenotype, that it can be kept without detrimental effect on its health or welfare’.
This was replicated by Regulation 20 of the 2000 Regulations. As the domestic legislation incorporating the Directive also includes this as the final Regulation, the continued legality of fur farming at national level became increasingly questionable. Given that mink are semi-aquatic and solitary, their confinement in cages for mink fur farming, without access to water to swim and being in close proximity to each other, was arguably contrary to Regulation 20.
But a ban on mink fur farming would not form part of the legislative framework until 2022. There was an attempt to ban fur farming in 2004 in the shape of the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Bill 2004. At that time, there were six fur farms operating in Ireland and one farm breeding artic foxes solely for the purpose of killing the animals for their pelts. The six farms contributed to approximately 153,000 deaths annually and generated just €1.56 million to the economy. However, the proposed bill was defeated by 67 votes to 50.
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From RTÉ News in 2019, proposals to end fur farming to be brought to Cabinet
In 2011 a Review Group was established to examine all aspects of fur farming in Ireland. Its report the following year concluded that it did not find the arguments in favour of banning the farming of fur animals in Ireland compelling. Instead, it recommended that fur farming be allowed continue under licence and subject to official control. By 2014, mink fur farm staff numbers had doubled since the 2012 report with fur farmers increasing investment following a period of uncertainty between the defeated Bill and the 2012 Report. It was then estimated that mink fur farming was worth €15 million annually to the exchequer.
Animal welfare concerns surrounding animals in captivity was raised for many years by proponents of animal welfare and the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. These concerns were bolstered in 2018 by Veterinary Ireland’s call for the immediate prohibition on the farming of mink and similar wild animals for the purposes of the production of fur.
As part of the 2020 Programme for Government, a commitment was made to 'immediately’ prioritise the drafting of legislation for the phasing out of fur farming. In 2022, the Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act was enacted, amending the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 The new Act contained a statutory prohibition on the breeding, rearing or keeping of specified animals solely or primarily for the value of, or the manufacture of products from, their fur or skin.
Ireland was ahead of the EU and, along with 16 other member states, had already banned mink farming.
The 2022 Act prohibits the breeding, rearing, or keeping of animals for their fur or skin. A compensation scheme for the three remaining fur farms was established under the Animal Health and Welfare (Fur Farming Compensation Scheme) Regulations 2022. Section 4 of this act provides gardaí with a power of arrest without warrant for certain animal health and welfare offences.
There have been recent developments at EU level. The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1422 of July 2025 provides for a ban on the breeding of American mink from August 2027. There are concerns that Denmark, Greece and Finland could seek to undermine the ban by requesting exemptions. Ireland was ahead of the EU and, along with 16 other member states, had already banned mink farming.
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The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
