Today in Denmark: A round-up of the latest news on Tuesday

Agreement reached over law for culling of minks

Denmark’s ‘red bloc’ of parties on the left of the parliamentary aisle have reached agreement over a new law providing for a temporary ban of mink breeding until 2022. The law also provides the legal basis to complete the culling of all fur farm minks in Denmark – a legal basis which has, until now, been lacking.

Denmark is currently in the process of culling all fur farm minks in the country after mutated forms of coronavirus were detected in the animals. Our reports on this story are gathered here.

None of the parties on the right supported the deal, and that means that it can’t be expedited as an emergency law, according to Jyllands-Posten’s report. As such, it may take at least 30 days for the law to be enforceable due to normal parliamentary process.

Food minister’s position looking increasingly untenable

The Minister for the Environment and Food, Mogens Jensen, bears the brunt of the responsibility for the government’s illegal initial order to cull healthy minks outside of the risk zone for known coronavirus outbreaks at mink fur farms.

READ ALSO: Danish government under increasing pressure over illegal mink directive

Left wing allies to the governing Social Democrats, including the Social Liberal (Radikale Venstre) party, have said they are unsure whether they will continue to support Jensen as minister. Parliamentary committee meetings over the next two days could seal his fate.

Medical profession criticises guidelines for religious circumcision

Professional associations representing doctors have criticised new guidelines from Danish Patient Safety Authority on ritual circumcision of boys, and have called for the procedures to be carried out at hospitals, broadcaster DR reports.

In 2018, a citizens' petition to ban the practice gained enough signatures to be brought before parliament, but did not have the overall support of MPs. In September this year, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said such a ban was "not the right way forward".

France and Denmark launch culls over bird flu cases

Another animal-borne virus has reached Denmark, it seems, though fortunately not one that endangers people.

Along with France, Denmark confirmed bird flu cases on Monday, days after an outbreak in the Netherlands triggered a cull.

French officials insisted there was no need for people to change their habits. We’ll have a longer report on this on our home page later this morning.

Denmark tightens prison security after escape by submarine murderer

Denmark's justice ministry has announced tighter security measures after lapses at a high-security prison resulted in convicted murderer Peter Madsen temporarily escaping last month.

We’ll also have a full report on this on our website today.

Danish vocabulary:

• Igangværende: ongoing
• Samråd: parliamentary committee meeting
• Aftale: agreement, deal
• At smuldre: to crumble, to collapse