One of the world’s top mink-producing countries is shutting down the industry as a result of COVID-19. Two findings—rising rates of infection among mink at Dutch fur farms and the discovery that the animals may have transmitted the virus to two farm employees—have forced the Netherlands to speed up existing plans for ending its mink industry in 2024. On Tuesday, parliament voted to cease mink breeding imminently and provide compensation to fur farmers.

The timeline for the updated closure has not been determined, nor has the rate of compensation due to producers, but animal welfare groups expect the shutdown will occur by the end of the year. Culling has already begun. Since June 5, nearly 600,000 of the 800,000