On Friday, the preliminary relief judge decided to immediately allow the clearing of mink farms where corona infections were found. On Thursday, clearing was suspended until after the session.
Animal rights organization Animal Rights filed a case with the Board of Appeal for Business (CBb). They believe that the government should have chosen to isolate these farms instead of killing them.
On Thursday, a ruling from Wednesday was held back by the preliminary relief judge, who thought that the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality should be given longer time to substantiate their position. However, the ministry urged a swift verdict for fear of demonstrations.
In recent weeks, at least six companies were found to be infected at eight different locations. This happened in Gemert-Bakel, Laarbeek, Deurne and Sint Anthonis.
Doubt about risk
Experts argue that mink farms can become a permanent source of contamination and pose a risk to public health. There are so far two known cases of the transmission of mink-human coronavirus.
However, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has found that the risk of exposure of people to the virus outside a mink shed is “negligible”.
Mink farms will be prohibited in the Netherlands from 2024.
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The coronavirus in short
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