Fur Farming Bill receives go-ahead from Government for drafting

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine Charlie McConalogue today announced Government agreement to the drafting of the Animal Health and Welfare (Amendment) Bill 2021.

This Bill provides for the legislative framework to (a) implement a prohibition on the keeping of animals primarily for their fur or skin, (b) provide for a scheme of compensation for the fur farming businesses currently operating and (c) introduce other miscellaneous amendments to the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. The Minister is seeking early Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the new provisions.

The Programme for Government 2020 includes a commitment to bring forward legislation that prohibits fur farming in the State. This draft Bill is the first step in this strategy being fulfilled.

There are now societal concerns relating to the farming of animal primarily for their fur or skin.

The statutory prohibition on fur farming will impact directly on three farming businesses that are currently conducting a lawful business. For this reason, the draft legislation includes a scheme of compensation for the farm businesses affected by the prohibition. The proposed compensation scheme is designed to be fair and reasonable to the fur farming operators concerned whilst also being fair to the taxpayer.

The draft legislation includes some technical amendments to the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 and a repeal of the Milk (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1979 which is surplus to requirements and not being replaced.

Referring to the Bill the Minister said

“The prohibition on fur farming in the State is in line with similar bans being implemented, or about to be implemented, in many jurisdictions across Europe and further afield.

“I realise that this is a very difficult time for the farmers and farms concerned. The farmers have always upheld the required animal welfare standards. However, the compensation package being provided is designed to mitigate losses resulting from the ban. I will continue to work with the farmers to ensure any compensation made available, is fair and reasonable.”

The Minister concluded:

"I welcome Government agreement to the drafting of this Bill and hope its progress through the legislative process proceeds without delay”.

Minister-of-State Pippa Hackett said:

“This is an important and progressive piece of legislation which, I believe, is supported by the vast majority of the general public. It is a key component of the Programme for Government and something I have long supported as indeed have many animal welfare groups as well as the representative body for veterinary surgeons in Ireland, Veterinary Ireland.”

Notes for Editors

• The Programme for Government 2020 includes a commitment to bring forward legislation that prohibits fur farming in the State. Draft legislation has now been drawn up to prohibit the keeping of animals primarily for their fur and/or skin.

• The compensation scheme will compensate mink farming operators for losses resulting from a ban on the fur farming industry in Ireland. The compensation scheme being proposed takes into consideration the scale and underlying performance of the industry and provides the owners with the opportunity to wind down operations in a timely and efficient manner. The availability of the compensation scheme is designed to address losses associated directly with the prohibition whilst at the same time balancing the exposure to the exchequer by setting out criteria upon which compensation will be payable.

• The methodology used in calculating losses resulting from the prohibition regarding unrealised asset value and income potential is broadly in line with earnings-based and asset-based approaches used in company valuations but is based on financial returns prepared by the three farm businesses themselves. Costs to the businesses for redundancy payments to their employees, certain professional fees, mink disposal costs and costs involved in the demolition of mink buildings, are also included.

ENDS