Just four of the Netherlands 110 fur farms still have mink and they are expected to close by the end of next week, farm minister Carola Schouten told MPs on Monday.

The rest of the companies have closed down because the season has ended – which means the young mink have been gassed and skinned – or because they were shut early because of coronavirus, the minister said.

In August, the government decided to bring forward the closure of the Dutch mink fur industry from 2024 to next March, following outbreaks of coronavirus on dozens of farms. In total, the virus has been found on 70 fur farms since the epidemic began.

Fur farmers begin killing young mink for their fur in November and were told by Schouten that they must shut up shop before the next breeding season in 2021.

The details of a compensation package for farmers are still being finalised, and they will be given a bridging income up to 2024, the minister said.