Bringing whale meat to Denmark may prove costly

Unauthorised imports of whale meat to Denmark may result in a fine of up to DKK 10,000.

A first-time offence may incur a DKK 5,000 fine, while a second offence brings the fine up to DKK 10,000.

So says Danish environment and food minister Lea Wermelin in her reply to Faroese member of the Danish Parliament, Sjúrður Skaale, who enquired about Faroese citizens’ rights to bring whale meat when travelling to Denmark.

Denmark follows EU regulations

Skaale enquired whether it is fair to add a fine to the current practice of confiscating whale meat brought to Denmark.

In her reply, Wermelin says that Denmark follows EU regulations on endangered animal and plant species.

These regulations list pilot whales as an endangered species. But Skaale argued that this listing is incorrect, as the UN does not specify the pilot whale as an endangered species.

Exceptions to the rule

There are, however, certain exceptions for bringing whale meat to Denmark from the Faroes or Greenland.

A person can import up to ten kilos of whale meat for personal consumption, provided that a permit has been issued by Danish and Faroese authorities.

Greenlandic citizens are not given a fine for importing whale meat. Instead, they are issued a warning, and the meat is confiscated.

According to the Danish minister, five Faroese citizens have been fined for importing whale meat to Denmark in the past three years.

Skaale says he will keep working towards securing a more favourable solution for Faroese citizens who wish to bring whale meat to Denmark.

Translated by prosa.fo