Under the Musk Rats Act, 1933 (Application to Mink) Order, 1965 the keeping of mink is prohibited except under licence from my Department. The issue or annual renewal of a licence to operate a mink farm is contingent on the enterprise complying with a number of key conditions. An annual compliance inspection of each of the mink farms currently licensed in Ireland is carried out to ensure that relevant standards are maintained.
Foxes are humanely killed by electrocution or lethal injection prior to pelt removal. Mink are humanely killed by inhalation of carbon monoxide gas prior to pelt removal. Both procedures are allowed under Schedule 6 of the EC (Protection of Animals at time of Slaughter) Regulations, 1965, S.I. No. 114 of 1995, and under the Council of Europe recommendation concerning fur animals. My Department will continue to closely monitor the operation of the licensed mink farms.