Today marks six years since the government closed their industry - 397 mink breeders are still awaiting clarity

'It is necessary to cull all mink in Denmark.'

That was the message from Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (Social Democrats) on 4 November 2020 at an online press conference.

Press conference with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on 4 November 2020.

A total of 966 mink farmers have since applied for compensation in the Mink Secretariat, and six years later, 397 of them are still waiting for a resolution.

- It is a completely unreasonable treatment that many, after six years, still have not received compensation. This means we cannot move forward, says Tage Pedersen, chairman of the Danish Fur Breeders' Association.

207 mink farms were affected by coronavirus infection when Mette Frederiksen ordered the animals to be culled. A mutated version of the virus had been found in the mink.

It spread to humans and posed a significant risk to public health, the arguments for culling the animals stated.

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Promises a swift resolution

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The state has so far paid out nearly 9.5 billion kroner in compensation to mink businesses.

341 mink farmers have had their cases concluded quickly by using the so-called fast track scheme, but it is not possible for everyone because their cases do not meet the criteria.

Mink compensation falls under the Ministry of Transport, and the new Transport Minister, Karina Lorentzen Dehnhardt (Socialist People's Party), acknowledges that it has taken a long time.

- I understand that people are wondering. This is about people's life's work, she says.

At the same time, she promises that all former mink farmers will receive a decision on whether they are entitled to compensation before 1 April next year.

At the Danish Transport Authority, which processes the mink compensation cases, they state that it takes over 500 hours to process a single case. They have increased staffing from the original 30-40 employees to 180 to speed up the process.

- It has been far more complicated than anyone could have foreseen. We have had to look at a number of factors such as mink quality, cages, buildings, and machinery, all of which affect what compensation they should receive, says Deputy Director of the Danish Transport Authority, Tina Henriksen.

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