Government halts permits for new and expanded pig farms
Monday 26th October 2026 on 08:45 in
Denmark
A one-year pause on permits for new conventional pig farms and expansions of existing facilities formally takes effect on Monday, DR reports.
The government announced the measure on 23 September, when it began operating in practice. It is now being introduced through a formal regulation. The pause is intended to give the government time to clarify the framework for future pig production, Nature and Animal Welfare Minister Christian Rabjerg Madsen said in September.
Landbrug & Fødevarer, an agricultural interest organisation, has warned it may bring lawsuits over financial losses caused by the measure. Several experts have also questioned whether the minister has legal authority to impose the pause, DR reported.
The restriction does not cover other types of livestock, organic pig production or free-range pig farming. Farmers may still demolish an existing barn and build a replacement, provided the total production area does not increase. Special rules apply to applications submitted between 23 September and 26 October.