Dutch lower house votes against mink farming

SANDY PARKER REPORT, VOL. 33, ISSUE 22, JULY 13, 2009
The following extract is reproduced with permission from Sandy Parker Reports, Weekly International Fur News. Sandy Parker has been covering the fur industry for more than four decades. For most of that time he has published a weekly newsletter, detailing results of international pelt auctions, wholesale price trends, business developments and movements in the trade, as well as economic and political activities that may impact on it.

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International Fur News
with Sandy Parker

Dutch lower house votes against mink farming

THE WORLD’S ANTI-FUR ORGANIZATIONS MAY NOT BE WINNING THEIR BATTLE IN THE PUBLIC RELATIONS SECTOR, but apparently are making more headway in their campaigns for support at the government level. They recently scored a major victory in the Dutch Parliament, where a majority approved a ban on mink production to be effective in 2018. Considering that the country has already banned the farming of fox and chinchilla for their fur, this would mean a total ban on all fur farming. However, the measure still must be approved by the senate and observers close to the scene say this is doubtful.

The general belief in the Dutch trade is that the senate, when its sessions resume in the fall, will not go along with the lower house. The reason advanced is that the political parties that were against the measure in the 150-seat parliament – where they were outvoted – have much more power in the senate, where they control most of the 75 seats. If the senate amends the bill, it must go back to the house for discussion. That could take another four to six months.

MORE THAN 170 FUR FARMERS ARE FURIOUS and the European Fur Breeders Association supports them, the organization declared. “Fur farming is a legal farming activity that brings revenue for many people and families living in areas where jobs are hard to come by. Fur farming in Europe is an important activity with up to 32 million pelts produced in 2008 and worldwide leader. It is a responsible activity and has the strictest rules in the world in terms of animal health and welfare.” Dutch Agriculture Minister Gerda Verbrug has given full support to the breeders, saying she’d much prefer talking about animal welfare than a production ban.

IN THIS ISSUE:
Dutch House Bans Mink Farms
Senate Seen Rejecting Measure
Crop Is World’s 3rd Largest
China Boosting Renminbi Role
Finns Report 3rd Quarter Profit

For extracts from back issues of Sandy Parker Reports see News Archive. Subscribers can access an archive of complete issues at www.sandyparker.com.