The Mink VIRUS Act phases out mink farming in the U.S. within a year, mandates humane termination methods for existing mink, and establishes a payment program for fur farm owners to cover costs and the market value of their mink farming operations, with recipients agreeing to not operate a fur farm in the future.
Adriano Espaillat
Representative
NY-13
The Mink VIRUS Act aims to protect public health by prohibiting mink farming in the U.S. one year after enactment and requiring humane termination methods for existing farmed mink. It establishes a payment program to compensate fur farm owners for the costs of compliance and the market value of their mink farming operations, contingent upon agreeing not to operate a fur farm in the future. The Act allocates $100 million to the Department of Agriculture for these payments.
Mink Farming Faces Nationwide Ban Within One Year Under New Bill, Offers $100M Farmer Buyout
This proposed legislation, the Mink VIRUS Act, is set to shut down all mink farming across the United States exactly one year after it becomes law. It doesn't just stop there; within 90 days of enactment, any termination of farmed mink must follow specific euthanasia methods outlined by federal regulations and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The bill aims to phase out the industry while setting clear standards for how existing animals are treated during the wind-down.
Closing the Cages: The Phase-Out Plan
The core of the Act is the outright ban on mink farming detailed in Section 2. Once the one-year deadline hits, continuing to farm mink triggers stiff penalties: up to $10,000 per day the operation continues. There's also a separate penalty – up to $10,000 per mink – if animals aren't terminated using the federally approved, AVMA-classified acceptable methods. It's worth noting this federal rule won't override any state or local laws that might impose even stricter requirements on mink farming or termination.
Dollars for Doors Closing: The Buyout Program
Recognizing the impact on farm owners, Section 3 establishes a $100 million payment program managed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Within 180 days of the Act's passage, mink farm owners can apply for payments intended to cover two main things: the reasonable costs they incur shutting down operations and complying with the euthanasia rules, and the fair market value of the portion of their farm used for mink farming (importantly, this excludes the land value). The market value is pegged to what the mink-farming part of the operation would have sold for the day before the Act passed.
There are strings attached to this payout. Owners must agree not to use the funds to operate any fur farm in the future. They also have to grant a permanent easement on their property, legally barring it from ever being used for fur farming operations again. This aims to ensure the buyout achieves a permanent end to mink farming on those specific sites.
The Fine Print: Definitions and Budget Rules
Section 4 lays out key definitions, clarifying exactly what counts as 'mink', a 'fur farm', and 'fur' itself – ensuring the scope of the ban is clear. For instance, it specifies American and European mink, hybrids, and their parts. Section 5 deals with budget rules, essentially exempting the Act's costs (like the $100M buyout fund) from certain pay-as-you-go budget requirements, meaning its financial impact won't trigger specific offsetting budget cuts elsewhere under those rules. For farmers, the crucial part remains the shutdown timeline and the terms of the compensation package.