Finnish Farmers Shocked by the Dutch Government's Plan to Ban Fur Farming

The executive director of the Finnish Fur Breeders' Association, Mr. Gustav Smulter, is appalled that the Dutch government on Friday afternoon [Jan. 26] approved the bill put forward by the Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Mr L.J. Brinkhorst, to ban mink farming on grounds of "public morality".

The executive director of the Finnish Fur Breeders Association, Mr. Gustav Smulter, is appalled that the Dutch government this afternoon approved the bill put forward by the Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Mr. L.J. Brinkhorst, to ban mink farming on grounds of "public morality". The bill would put a stop to mink farming after a transitional period of ten years, with no compensation being proposed to the farmers. According to Mr. Smulter the Dutch government coldly disregards both the decisions taken by the European Commission as well as the report issued by their own investigator. The European Commission is preparing a directive on fur farming, and the Commission has urged that all member states abstain from passing any national bills regarding fur farming.

About two years ago the Dutch Minister of Agriculture tried to ban fur farming based on animal welfare. The attempt failed as the report by Mr. J. van Noord, the independent investigator named by the government, stated that taken today's situation there are absolutely no grounds for a ban on fur farming based on animal welfare. In his report Mr. Noord also strongly criticized the grounds of "public morality" and stated that a ban would cause substantial damage both to the farmers and to the farmed animals. The Minister of Agriculture then withdraw the bill as there was no chance of it being approved.

"The Dutch bill shows poorness of sense and shocking lack of consideration both for the entrepreneurs, the farmed animals and the decisions by the European Commission," says Mr. Smulter. He believes though that the Dutch equivalent to the Finnish Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) together with the Dutch Fur Breeders Association will do all that is in their power to stop the bill from being approved in coming legislative bodies.

See also:

Dutch Government to Pursue Fur Farm Ban; Farmers Accuse Minister of Deception, FCUSA commentary, Jan. 30, 2001.

Double Dutch: Debating the Morality of Mink Farming, FCUSA commentary, Jan. 12, 2000.

Dutch Parliament Seeks Mink Farm Ban, FCUSA press release, July 2, 1999.

Press Kit Special Feature : Euro-Watch

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