It was in January last year that the government gave the commission to investigate whether minks living on Swedish fur farms can behave naturally. Now a report with the result has arrived.
- We have found that, in general, the minks have gotten better since we decided on new and stricter animal welfare rules in 2012. Information from the county administrative inspection and also data from the mink industry's care program shows fewer deficiencies and a better animal environment, says Karin Åhl, who is an investigator and expert at the Swedish Board of Agriculture, in a press release.
More researchOne result of the report is also that more research is needed. It is still unclear how common it is with behavioral disorders among minks in fur breeding.
According to Sweden's Radio Ekot, it was the Environmental Party who pressed for the investigation to be done. The party is now disappointed with the report and does not propose stricter requirements for the mink industry.
- I think it is lame, I had hoped for clearer guidelines from the Swedish Board of Agriculture, says Elisabeth Falkhaven, who is MP's spokesperson on animal welfare issues, to Sweden's Radio.
According to the Swedish Federation of Animal Breeders' National Association, there are about 70 mink farms in Sweden. Many of them are on Listerlandet outside Sölvesborg.