HR2185-119

What This Bill Does

The Mink VIRUS Act phases out mink farming while compensating affected fur farms. One year after enactment, no fur farm may farm mink. Starting 90 days after enactment, any farmed mink termination must meet the federal euthanasia definition and be classified as acceptable under the most recent AVMA euthanasia guidelines. Violations of the farming ban can carry civil penalties up to $10,000 for each day of noncompliance, and violations of the euthanasia requirement can carry penalties up to $10,000 for each mink terminated improperly. USDA must create a payment program within 180 days for fur farm owners whose operations involve mink, paying reasonable compliance costs plus the market value of the mink-farming portion of the farm, excluding land. Recipients may not use payments to operate a fur farm and must provide a permanent easement barring fur farm operation on the property. Treasury transfers $100 million to USDA for the program.

Who Benefits and How

Animal welfare advocates benefit because mink farming would end and any required termination must use AVMA-acceptable euthanasia. Public health advocates benefit from eliminating mink farms that can present zoonotic disease concerns. Fur farm owners receiving transition payments benefit from compensation for compliance costs and the market value of the mink-farming portion of the farm. State animal welfare regulators benefit because the federal bill does not preempt more restrictive state or local rules.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Mink fur farm owners must stop farming mink within one year or face daily civil penalties. Mink termination contractors must use acceptable euthanasia methods or expose farm operators to per-mink penalties. USDA payment staff must value mink-farming assets, administer payments, and enforce permanent no-fur-farm easements. Federal taxpayers fund the $100 million transfer for the payment program.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits fur farms from farming mink beginning one year after enactment.
• Requires farmed mink termination after 90 days to meet federal euthanasia definitions and AVMA acceptable methods.
• Authorizes civil penalties up to $10,000 per day for farming-ban violations and up to $10,000 per mink for euthanasia violations.
• Creates USDA payments for compliance costs and mink-farm market value, excluding land.
• Requires payment recipients to grant permanent easements barring fur farm operation and transfers $100 million to USDA.