Fur Farming Draft Regulations Posted Online

The province is gathering public input as it moves to improve the regulation of the fur farming industry.

Draft regulations are now available for public comment, and key industry groups will be consulted over the next week.

"These draft regulations will help the mink industry to grow while ensuring good environmental stewardship," said Agriculture Minister John MacDonell. "While we understand there are concerns associated with mink ranching, we are committed to the sustainable development of this sector."

Department staff conducted extensive research about the structures and physical land features of typical fur farms, as well as the waste produced and how it is handled. Legislative and regulatory frameworks from other jurisdictions such as Denmark, were also examined.

Nova Scotians are invited to provide input by e-mail to [email protected] .

The draft regulations and other information are available at gov.ns.ca/agri .

The fur industry is an export industry worth about $100 million to the provincial economy. There are about 150 registered mink farmers in Nova Scotia.