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The Finnish government criticizes the Dutch bill to ban mink farming |
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Thursday, 31 July 2008 |
The Finnish government has delivered today a detailed statement, a reasoned opinion, to the European Commission regarding the bill notified by the Netherlands to the member states on 10 April, aiming to ban mink farming completely. A reasoned opinion is in practice the most effective way a member state can intervene in another member state’s legislation.
In its opinion, the Cabinet Committee on European Union Affairs states that fur production is an accepted livelihood in Europe. Recommendations concerning fur animals were adopted in the Council of Europe’s Convention for the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes in 1999.
The opinion states that it will be problematic for the operation of the internal market if the member states introduce deviating bans on pursuing a livelihood. Therefore, the member states should refrain from bans on fur farming.
The Cabinet Committee on European Union Affairs emphasizes that a high standard of animal welfare is required in Finland for all animal species kept for fur production.
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