Amendments to Fur Industry Act Announced

Changes to the Fur Industry Act introduced today, Nov. 1, will ensure the industry is an environmentally responsible neighbour as it creates jobs in rural Nova Scotia.

The amendments allows the Agriculture Minister to respond to problems and help prevent them at new or established farms.

"Through a number of public consultations we heard communities when they said there were concerns associated with mink farming," said Agriculture Minister John MacDonell. "We are taking significant steps to address those concerns by amending the act and implementing new regulations that will enable the industry to grow, while ensuring good environmental management."

The proposed regulations focus on environmental management of fur operations. The regulations concentrate on the storage, treatment and disposal of manure, waste feed and carcasses.

The original act included a three-year grandfather period. A key amendment ensures existing farms that expand are no longer given the three years and will have only six months to comply. The amended act also requires any fur farms that stop operating to clean up waste.

Fur farming is a growing, rural-based industry in Nova Scotia worth about $140 million annually and employs about 1,000 people.