Regulation No. 296 on the keeping of fur animals.

This Regulation establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the welfare of animals kept for fur production in Norway, primarily mink and foxes. Its main objective is to ensure good animal welfare and respect for the animals’ natural behavior, requiring that farmers have proper training, notify authorities, and maintain detailed records. It sets strict rules on breeding (favoring healthy, non-aggressive animals), daily care, feeding, socialization, and humane handling. The regulation also prohibits certain practices, such as public exhibitions of live fur animals and the use of substances that artificially enhance growth or fur quality.
In addition, the regulation imposes detailed technical and operational requirements for housing and managing animals. Facilities must provide adequate space, environmental enrichment, proper ventilation, lighting, and protection from stress, disease, and injury. Specific provisions regulate enclosure sizes, flooring, nesting areas, and group housing, with separate standards for mink and foxes. Farmers must monitor animal health closely, ensure prompt veterinary care, and follow strict hygiene and biosecurity practices. Authorities (Mattilsynet) are responsible for supervision and enforcement, with the power to issue orders, grant limited exemptions, and impose penalties for violations.